Transmission & Distribution
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Florida regulators OK utility use of tax savings to pay for hurricane damages
Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. will use $484 million and $91 million, respectively, in savings from a 2017 tax cut to pay for hurricane damage without raising customer rates.
By Robert Walton • May 24, 2019 -
Xcel, Boulder to settle lawsuit; City agrees to dissolve utility
Boulder officials say the settlement does not affect the city’s plan for voters to determine whether to create a municipal electric utility.
By Robert Walton • May 24, 2019 -
PG&E to bury distribution lines serving fire-ravaged Paradise, California
While rebuilding from the 2018 Camp Fire, the utility committed to burying power lines at no additional cost while replacing gas lines, in order to avoid another disaster.
By Robert Walton • May 23, 2019 -
National Grid says no new NYC gas customers until state approves pipeline
New York regulators denied a permit last week, ruling the Williams Cos' pipeline that would relieve natural gas congestion in the New York City Area could harm aquatic life.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 22, 2019 -
Deep DiveWant to know if California can make zero emissions by 2045? Here's what to watch
To reach a zero emissions economy, California needs to eliminate natural gas by regionalizing the Western grid and coordinating local and state system planning.
By Herman K. Trabish • May 21, 2019 -
NRG Energy advances retail expansion with $300M Stream Energy acquisition
The all-cash deal will add more than 600,000 residential customers to NRG's service and help the company grow market share in Texas, Pennsylvania and other areas.
By Robert Walton • May 21, 2019 -
Facebook to pay half of $85 million New Mexico transmission line under new order
State regulators rejected a request from Public Service of New Mexico to reconsider a decision denying ratemaking treatment for a transmission upgrade, which they say would only serve one customer.
By Robert Walton • May 20, 2019 -
OpinionBVLOS drones improve power line inspections amid increasing fire and storm risks for utilities
We saw the devastating effect of vegetation encroachment in the recent California fires, which in part have been blamed on failure to maintain properly cleared transmission lines.
By Geoff Zeiss • May 17, 2019 -
New York updates price signals to recognize full value, spur distributed energy resources
The Public Service Commission approved adjustments to standby and buyback service rates aimed at reducing peak demand and operating the electric grid more efficiently.
By Robert Walton • May 17, 2019 -
California concludes PG&E responsible for state's deadliest wildfire
Eighty-five people died in the 2018 Camp Fire, which the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection now says was sparked by Pacific Gas & Electric's transmission lines.
By Robert Walton • May 16, 2019 -
Solar, wind industries urge feds to smooth deployment kinks
Transmission, soft cost reductions and greater resource efficiency require federal investment to maximize technology growth, industry leaders told the House Subcommittee on Energy Wednesday.
By Catherine Morehouse • May 16, 2019 -
San Francisco eyes purchase of PG&E grid assets to increase power independence
A report from the city's Public Utilities Commission concludes public ownership of the city's electric grid "has the potential for significant long-term benefits relative to investment costs and risks."
By Robert Walton • May 14, 2019 -
Smooth operator: PJM credits low Q1 congestion costs to mild weather, cheap fuel
Energy prices were "significantly lower" in the first quarter of 2019 than a year ago, according to analysis by the PJM Interconnection market monitor, making it more difficult for generators to recoup costs.
By Robert Walton • May 13, 2019 -
OpinionHow to protect California ratepayers, expand clean local energy and avoid bailing out PG&E
Divesting the utilities of their transmission assets to make them Distribution System Operators will benefit ratepayers and utilities.
By Craig Lewis • May 13, 2019 -
California electric customers could see rising bills due to wildfires, declining sales: CPUC
California electric rates are rising, in part because low usage is no longer offsetting rate impacts, according to a new report by the state's regulators.
By Robert Walton • May 10, 2019 -
NERC to analyze first potential cyberattack on US grid
The nonprofit has no information suggesting malicious intent behind the loss of visibility to a utility control system that occurred in early March and impacted electrical system operations in California, Utah and Wyoming.
By HJ Mai • May 10, 2019 -
California regulators dig into safety qualifications of new PG&E board
Amidst ongoing investigation into PG&E safety culture, regulators called on the embattled utility to provide detail into the safety experience of its new board members, including a new CEO and 10 new directors.
By Robert Walton • May 09, 2019 -
South Carolina regulators slash Duke Energy Progress rate hikes, cut $333M coal ash recovery
The Public Service Commission adopted a similar motion reducing another Duke subsidiary's proposed rate hike by 54%, signaling the impact of stakeholders that rallied to oppose the increases.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 09, 2019 -
Texas grid operator braces for tight supply-demand balance this summer
ERCOT says it continues to see "above-normal growth" in electric demand on its system, largely due to new industrial load on the coast and the oil and gas industry in the west.
By Robert Walton • May 09, 2019 -
OpinionTime to open 'time-sensitive' transmission projects to Order 1000 competition
While competition is intended to encourage transmission developers to drive down consumer costs, shift risks to private investors and achieve greater efficiencies, New England consumers are not realizing those benefits.
By Jason Marshall • May 09, 2019 -
EPA questions federal permit application of 1.2 GW hydro transmission line
Central Maine's environmental permit application for a proposed 145-mile project from Quebec to Massachusetts prevents stakeholders from having a full understanding of the project due to allegedly incomplete information, EPA wrote.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 08, 2019 -
ConEd eases customer DER adoption while gaining data to improve grid planning
Customers installing solar panels or an electric vehicle charger can get a free device that avoids the cost of upgrading the home's circuit panel and provides the utility with valuable energy usage data.
By Robert Walton • May 08, 2019 -
Michigan regulators approve DTE $273M rate increase, EV pilot, net metering replacement
DTE Energy, which had requested a larger rate increase, will spend $13 million on a three-year electric vehicle and school bus charging pilot program that could support thousands of charging stations.
By Robert Walton • May 03, 2019 -
PG&E faces SEC investigation into public disclosures of wildfire losses
In its quarterly filing, the company revealed the investigation and recorded more than $400 million in costs related to wildfire cleanup and recovery.
By Robert Walton • May 03, 2019 -
NYISO: Decarbonization efforts could be slowed without new transmission
A report from the grid operator concludes the state's electric grid is "at the cusp of the next evolution," but decarbonization efforts could be stymied without new transfer capabilities between upstate renewables and downstate consumers.
By Robert Walton • May 03, 2019
