Transmission & Distribution

'Simple' or a 'band-aid'? ISO-NE leans toward Eversource/National Grid $49M solution for Mystic plant replacement

New England's grid operator chose the lowest-cost proposal, but one developer says that doesn't make it the most effective or efficient.

By Robert Walton • July 02, 2020

Hitachi completes acquisition of ABB power grid business, launches joint venture

The new entity will use Hitachi's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to leverage data from ABB's grid operations while exploring opportunities in mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers.

By Guy Burdick • July 02, 2020

Deep Dive

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Should the US beef up cybersecurity rules for distributed resources? FERC solicits public input

Regulators want to better understand the threat posed by a "coordinated cyberattack on geographically distributed targets."

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2020

Deep Dive

A COVID-19 hit to public power? For some, it's not all bad

Municipal utilities and other public power entities have unique challenges, and some advantages, when dealing with the financial impacts of the pandemic and recession.

By Matthew Bandyk • June 25, 2020

LF Energy announces open source substation project to better handle variable renewables, EVs

CoMPAS should enable grid operators to manage the transition to clean energy, handling fluctuations in supply from renewable resources and demand from electric vehicles, according to LF Energy and its partners on the project.

By Guy Burdick • June 24, 2020

FERC considers transmission incentives for voluntary cybersecurity investments

Experts say the existing standards create a baseline of security but a market-based approach could spur significant new investments including enhanced use of cloud-based computing systems.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2020

Could the aspirations of a small Memphis utility signal the beginning of the end for TVA?

Stymied by years of high prices that seem likely to increase, communities across the six-state TVA region are weighing the possibility of leaving the federally-owned utility.

By Emma Penrod • June 22, 2020

Xcel to speed up $3B in clean energy spending in response to Minnesota prompt on COVID-19 recovery

The utility plans to aid the state's economic recovery through a variety of programs, including energy efficiency, renewables and storage, that would create an estimated 5,000 jobs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 19, 2020

Clean energy groups to propose FERC rules for national transmission system saving $47B a year

The American Council on Renewable Energy and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid launched an initiative Wednesday that targets significant savings by moving the U.S. away from a regional electric system.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2020

Rising energy loads from fewer COVID-19 limits, warming weather spark utility readiness concerns

A mix of virus-related stay-at-home orders, economic restrictions, warmer weather and now the limited return of industry has complicated utility load forecasting and led to fears of increased blackouts.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2020

FERC accepts Tri-State exit fee methodology as jurisdiction battle looms with Colorado

Tri-State and its member cooperatives looking to leave its service territory are at odds over whether federal or state regulators should have the final say on exit fees. Observers say the battle will likely reach the courts.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2020

PG&E to plead guilty on 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter ahead of bankruptcy court decision

At a hearing this morning, the Butte County, California, District Attorney will show photographs of all the people who died in the 2018 Camp Fire.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2020

Supreme Court lifts major hurdle to $7.5B Atlantic Coast Pipeline

Pipeline opponents say Duke and Dominion have many more barriers to overcome on the long-delayed project. Dominion requested a two-year extension on the project on Tuesday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • UPDATED: June 18, 2020 at 9:40 a.m.

California utilities, regulators aim to hasten microgrid deployment ahead of wildfire season

Pacific Gas and Electric plans to have 73 microgrids operational by the end of 2020, which are viewed by California commissioners as part of a multifaceted approach to wildfire preparation.

By Emma Penrod • June 15, 2020

Utility ransomware attacks becoming more sophisticated, new 'honeypot' operation finds

Cybereason created a fake industrial control network to study how hackers target utilities. "It is only a matter of time before a catastrophic event occurs," the Boston-based security firm concluded.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2020

New York's economy is slowly reopening, but electricity demand remains clipped due to COVID-19

The grid operator for New York anticipates annual electricity consumption for 2020 will be 6% to 7% lower than previously forecast, due to the coronavirus pandemic — with increasing amounts supplied by carbon-free resources.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2020

FERC prohibits pipeline construction, allows land seizures as court weighs 'legal purgatory' of rehearing delays

Federal regulators issued an order that prevents developers from beginning construction while a request for rehearing is pending.

By Catherine Morehouse • June 11, 2020

Deep Dive

Trump's grid security order sows confusion in power sector — but don't expect a quick fix

The executive order limits the installation of bulk power system equipment sourced from foreign adversaries, but experts say the vague wording has the industry 'freaked out.'

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2020

DC to investigate distributed resource ownership issues as part of grid modernization effort

Regulators also decided to consider performance-based regulation within Potomac Electric Power's ongoing rate case, drawing concerns that regulators are taking a "piecemeal" approach to grid modernization.

By Robert Walton • June 09, 2020

FERC plans technical conference to tackle long-term energy sector impacts of COVID-19

The commission will examine operational challenges, electricity demand and transmission planning impacts, and the effects on the sector's access to capital, including credit, liquidity and returns on equity.

By Robert Walton • June 08, 2020

Deep Dive

When storms collide: Utilities' new approach to hurricane restoration in the age of COVID-19

The spread of the novel coronavirus has forced Duke, FPL and other utilities to alter their approach to storm restoration, utilizing smaller crews and more remote work while keeping a close eye on worker health.

By Robert Walton • June 04, 2020

Deep Dive

The 3 key challenges to expanding the West's real-time energy market to day-ahead trading

Driven by new Western state renewables and zero emissions mandates, the 11 active participants and nine new applicants in the Energy Imbalance Market are pushing to expand it to day-ahead trading.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 03, 2020

Opinion

Outdated NEPA needs modernizing. Just ask Warren Buffett

As the U.S. economy prepares to recover from the current crisis, important job and revenue-creating proposals like the 1,000 mile Gateway West transmission project don’t need to languish in a regulatory morass, the author writes.

By Paul Griffin • June 03, 2020

As PG&E highlights potential need for fossil fuels to address power shutoffs, groups press for more storage

The California Public Utilities Commission will vote on PG&E's proposal, as well as other measures to accelerate the deployment of microgrids, on June 11. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 02, 2020