Transmission & Distribution

California decision means higher costs for community choice programs

Community choice advocates say a Thursday decision by state regulators will shift hundreds of millions in costs and undercut the business case for leaving an investor-owned utility's supply.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2018

Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo

Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018

Northwest utilities return to normal gas service after Enbridge pipeline rupture

The incident in British Columbia reduced natural gas supply to generators operated by Puget Sound Energy and Avista, as well as residential and commercial customers. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: Oct. 12, 2018 at 8:50 a.m.

Gulf Power: 'Unprecedented' storm may require system rebuild

The hurricane is estimated to be the strongest to hit the U.S. in 50 years and Southern Company is reducing output at two units of its Alabama nuclear plant as a "precautionary measure" as the storm continues northeast. 

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Oct. 11, 2018 at 10:42 a.m.

After another overpressurization, Massachusetts regulators call halt to work on gas system

National Grid was forced to shut off gas service to 300 customers after a worker overpressurized the system, considered the cause of a deadly series of explosions with Columbia Gas in September.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2018

Gulf coast utilities brace for Michael, strongest storm in Florida panhandle history

The storm will be a test for Duke Energy, whose outage management system failed last year during Hurricane Irma.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Oct. 10, 2018 at 5:07 p.m.

PG&E lines caused 2017 Cascade fire that killed 4, state officials say

The utility did not violate state regulations, CAL FIRE said, but California's insurance laws can hold it financially liable even if it did not break the law. 

By Gavin Bade • UPDATED: Oct. 10, 2018 at 11:32 a.m.

Federal regulators OK $6B CenterPoint-Vectren merger

Shares of CenterPoint initially fell when the deal was announced in April on concerns it was paying too much, but since then, have risen about 8.5%.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 09, 2018

Michigan, Enbridge agree to build $350M to $500M underground pipeline

The tunnel will replace the above-ground line that runs across the Straits of Mackinac and could take up to 10 years to complete.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 08, 2018

Michigan regulators clear Consumers PURPA rates, green tariff programs

Solar advocates say the avoided cost rates, on hold since November, will bring more certainty for potential investors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 08, 2018

Mountain Valley stalled, Atlantic Sunrise cleared for service in busy pipeline week

The diverging fortunes of the two Appalachian projects illustrate the struggle between environmental advocates and natural gas companies over the siting and construction of new pipelines.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 05, 2018

Trump administration tackles pipeline cybersecurity

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security this week co-chaired a meeting with the oil and gas industry to address how pipelines can be protected from cyberattacks.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 05, 2018

After Massachusetts explosions, Columbia Gas to pay for customers to switch heating systems

Experts say the deadly disaster presents an opportunity to modernize the heating systems in three towns.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 04, 2018

Coal lobby pleased as Trump nominates ally McNamee to FERC

The Department of Energy official is expected to align closer with White House priorities than former Commissioner Robert Powelson, who stepped down in August. 

By Gavin Bade • UPDATED: Oct. 4, 2018 at 9:40 a.m.

Virginia 10-year energy plan includes 5 GW of renewables, EVs, grid modernization

The state's 10-year plan calls for 3 GW of of solar and onshore wind energy to be deployed by 2022, followed by 2 GW of offshore wind.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 03, 2018

EPA MATS rollback threatens DOE carbon capture priorities, critics warn

Allowing utilities to stop using pollution scrubbers mandated under the EPA's Mercury and Air Toxics Standards could raise the price for coal plants to adopt carbon capture, proponents of the technology said. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 02, 2018

ISO-NE to focus on market solutions for winter energy security in 2019

ISO New England is considering an "interim compensation treatment for periods associated with reliability reviews for fuel security," the grid operator says in its 2019 Annual Work Plan.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 02, 2018

DTE accelerates gas line replacements to cut methane emissions 80% by 2040

The utility previously announced efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of its power activities and now turns its attention to the gas side of its operations.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 01, 2018

NYPA head Quiniones outlines next steps to digitize the grid

Over the next two years, the New York Power Authority's digitization initiative will focus on adding sensors and identifying third-party partners for its data-driven decision support system, CEO Gil Quiniones says.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 27, 2018

Mountain Valley Pipeline costs rise to $4.6B

About half of the increase is due to August work stoppages ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a result of environmental lawsuits.

By Kim Slowey • Sept. 27, 2018

The top 3 headaches for behind-the-meter C&I storage

Executives working on energy storage deployment in the commercial and industrial market sound off on recent trends and changes in the sector, including the biggest difficulties for BTM.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 26, 2018