Transmission & Distribution

Amid charging pilot developments, Virginia regulators to investigate EV grid impacts

The Virginia State Corporation Commission has opened a proceeding to consider ownership models for public chargers and issues surrounding EV charging rates and energy storage capabilities.

By Robert Walton • March 30, 2020

National Grid suspends pending rate increases in response to COVID-19

National Grid had electric and gas rate increases slated to go into effect April 1, but New York regulators have set those on hold as the economic impacts of the novel coronavirus continue to spread.

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2020

Colorado expedites Tri-State member exit charge case, as power supplier gets 'split decision' on FERC jurisdiction

The decision allows the Colorado PUC to determine fees required for La Plata Electric Association and United Energy to exit Tri-State Generation and Transmission's service.

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2020

Deep Dive

Cheapest is not always best: Concentrated solar power could beat lower price PV with new market rules

CSP can deliver greater grid stability than photovoltaics, but needs better recognition of its value to be competitive.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2020

Ameren Missouri supplier hit by ransomware attack amid growing concern for critical infrastructure

The utility says no confidential information was compromised in the breach. Security experts are increasingly concerned about a potential cyberattack on critical infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • March 25, 2020

Utilities beginning to see the load impacts of COVID-19 as economic shutdown widens

Demand for electricity is falling and experts say that could mean higher rates in some territories.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2020

Deep Dive

PG&E, SCE abandon big microgrid plans for temporary emergency measures as wildfire season nears

Regulators' push to implement a law requiring microgrid rollouts is being frustrated by the costs of traditional generation and clean energy complexities.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 23, 2020

FERC launches long-delayed revision of transmission incentives, bringing benefits into the equation

Chairman Neil Chatterjee wants to "keep the business of the commission going" while taking precautions given the spread of the novel coronavirus, potentially rushing a response from stakeholders.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 20, 2020

ComEd CEO: Exelon expects to have pandemic plan in place through the summer

The regulated utility subsidiaries are adjusting their plans to the specific characteristics of the coronavirus under the expectation that it could last a while.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 19, 2020

DOE nixes automatic confidentiality designations for utilities, seen by NGOs as potential boost for coal and nuclear

"You could see a pathway for DOE using this information to prohibit coal or nuclear plants from closing and limiting the public's ability to engage in that decision making process," a clean energy advocate said.

By Robert Walton • March 18, 2020

PJM over-forecasting costs consumers up to $4.4B for unneeded energy capacity: Report

The Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council funded a report that confirms the large price tag of the high reserve margin in PJM's forward capacity auction.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 17, 2020

Duke, AEP, Dominion among utilities to halt service shutoffs in coronavirus response

As President Donald Trump declared the spread of the novel coronavirus a national emergency, several major utilities halted power shutoffs.

By Robert Walton • March 16, 2020

Outdated business models are holding back greater renewables, DER integration: Enter DSOs

Decoupling ownership and operation of the distribution grid would advance deployment of non-wires solutions, a DER planning manager at Exelon said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 13, 2020

Grid operators cancel travel, shift to remote meetings, as industry preps for broad coronavirus absenteeism

Utilities expect up to 40% of their workforce to be out sick, according to the Edison Electric Institute.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2020

Over reliance on gas in PREPA IRP jeopardizes Puerto Rico's 100% clean energy goals, groups say

The future of Puerto Rico's electric grid hinges on a lot of moving parts: the utility's long-term plan, a debt restructuring agreement, the search for replacement generation and access to federal emergency funding.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2020

Eversource, 7 others propose 36 ISO-NE transmission upgrades to offset loss of Exelon's Mystic station

The grid operator in 2019 launched its first competitive transmission solicitation under FERC's Order 1000, identifying upgrade needs around Boston and targeting more creative solutions in cases not considered time sensitive.

By Robert Walton • March 06, 2020

Deep Dive

Green Mountain Power's pioneering steps in transactive energy raise big questions about DER's value

Peer-to-peer energy transactions could meet policy goals and system needs, if software platforms resolve the complexities of value and reliable operation.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 04, 2020

NYC storage 'most adversely impacted' by FERC orders: NYISO CEO

Nuclear zero emissions credits and new renewable energy resource credits upstate will not face similar hurdles to market participation, said Richard Dewey, CEO of the grid operator.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 28, 2020

Ameren boosts Missouri 5-year smart grid investment to $7.6B, plans $1.2B wind purchase

The utility plans to begin installing smart meters in Missouri this year, and expects to roll out 1.2 million across its service territory by 2025.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2020

NiSource sells off controversial Massachusetts Columbia Gas assets for $1.1B to Eversource

The Massachusetts gas utility was in much need of rebranding, analysts say, as it emerged with a $143 million settlement for the 2018 Merrimack Valley explosions.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 28, 2020

NARUC offers Puerto Rico guidance on FEMA funding use, public-private approach to grid operations

The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners is sending representatives from eight states to assist Puerto Rico in reassessing how its utilities are overseen.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2020

As Puget Sound Energy moves to sell Colstrip share, critics say Northwestern desperate to keep coal plant online

The Montana utility saw a massive profit from the plant in 2008, and now will do anything to keep the facility in its ratebase, say environmentalists.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 26, 2020

State of the Electric Utility 2020

Renewables and sustainability are top priorities for utilities, but there is room for improvement on cybersecurity, climate resilience and more, Utility Dive's seventh annual report finds.​

By Nami Sumida • Feb. 26, 2020

Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch warns of unintended consequences in Atlantic Coast Pipeline case

Justices Neil Gorsuch echoed developer arguments in his questioning, warning that a lower court decision could 'invite pipelines' in Western national parks.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2020

With FERC tariff filing, Southwest Power Pool moves closer to Western imbalance market launch

The market is expected to produce more efficient generation dispatch, which could help bring more renewable energy online, though utilities will ultimately make decisions on their own resource mix, an SPP official said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2020