Transmission & Distribution

Federal oversight board orders changes to PREPA budget

Puerto Rico's utility has until Wednesday to issue revised plans or risk the federal board imposing its budget.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 14, 2018
3.9M more EVs will not strain California's grid, Next 10 says

The presence of EV ride-sharing cars is likely to promote more daytime charging, the think tank forecasts, leading to lower renewable energy curtailment.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 13, 2018
Lawmakers skeptical of Gov. Brown's plan to alter California wildfire liability rules

As wildfires continue to spread throughout the state, lawmakers hesitate to tackle legislation that could be construed as a bailout for electric utilities.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2018
Florida grid hardening is working, PSC hurricane report concludes

Florida regulators want to ensure the state's electric grid is ready for the next big storm, after Hurricane Irma knocked out power to more than half of the residents last year.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2018
FERC halts Atlantic Coast, clears 3 other pipeline projects in busy Friday

The decisions came hours before Republicans lost their one-vote majority on FERC. Until a replacement is confirmed, Democrats can deadlock agency votes.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 13, 2018
Study: EVs will have 20% of global mileage share by 2030

Researchers predict adoption will surge despite small current market share and government regulations, thanks in part to its use in other mobility forms.

By Katie Pyzyk • Aug. 13, 2018
$5M gas efficiency pilot approved, headed to ConEd's NYC customers

The project applies non-pipelines solutions to address the growing natural gas demand during peak winter time.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 13, 2018
As Powelson steps down, greens call for FERC seat to stay vacant

Powelson's departure Friday comes during a busy summer for FERC, with the commission facing high-profile decisions on pipelines, grid resilience and the PJM capacity market.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 10, 2018
Report: DOE, DHS planning new grid cybersecurity exercise this fall

The Liberty Eclipse exercise will focus on blackstart capabilities and the intersection of the natural gas and electric power sectors, E&E News reports.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 07, 2018
FERC denies rehearing on Northern Access pipeline, overruling New York decision

The decision could help set a precedent for how FERC handles state challenges to its permitting authority for gas pipelines.

By Gavin Bade • UPDATED: Aug. 7, 2018 at 2 p.m.
Court tosses construction permits for Atlantic Coast Pipeline

FERC's approval of the 600-mile pipeline was based on a faulty right-of-way permit from the National Park Service, the Fourth Circuit Court ruled, likely halting construction for the $6 billion project.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 06, 2018
FERC halts construction of Mountain Valley Pipeline after court ruling

The decision is the biggest victory yet for opponents of the 300-mile natural gas pipeline, which FERC approved last October.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 06, 2018
Berkeley lab challenges grid community to improve interoperability

The Plug & Play DER Challenge is a call for concepts to the smart grid community, seeking "visionary" ideas focused on improving interoperability on an increasingly-connected electric grid.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 06, 2018
Split FERC approves Spire pipeline, brushing aside self-dealing concerns

The only entity that signed contracts for the 65-mile pipeline is an affiliate of the project developer, leading critics to question if the project is truly necessary.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 06, 2018
Opinion
Broadband access: A regulatory call to action to protect utilities against cyber threats

Modernizing utility communications infrastructure to the advanced broadband available today will pay off for decades to come, according to Jack Markell, former Democratic governor of Delaware.

By Jack Markell
As California customer choice options expand, regulators work to ensure grid costs are equitable

A new report estimates Community Choice Aggregators could serve a majority of California’s power consumers within the next decade, raising the stakes for efforts to ensure costs are shared equitably.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 03, 2018
Report: PG&E considers breaking up company to avoid wildfire liability

The company and its utility subsidiary have been highly critical of California laws that allow for wildfire liability even if standards and regulations are met, warning of the threat of bankruptcy and reorganization.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 02, 2018
Dominion nuke plant eligible for zero carbon resources bid in Connecticut

The company had warned regulators that its Millstone nuclear plant was at risk of shuttering after the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's original RFP wouldn't have allowed it to bid until 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • Aug. 02, 2018
Recent heat wave provides stress test for US renewables integration

CAISO has called for conservation as a heat wave spiked electricity use. Like other areas of the country, the lights stayed on but also revealed weaknesses in the electric grid.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 02, 2018
California ISO enters must-run contracts, approves measures to shore up reliability

The board of the California ISO last week approved several measures to support system reliability, including issuing two new reliability must-run designations and modifying other contracts.

By Robert Walton • July 31, 2018
California approves revised San Onofre closure settlement, saving customers $750M

This agreement ends a six-year controversy following a deal that the largest owner of the plant, Southern California Edison, struck in a private arrangement with state regulators.

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2018
Colorado regulators press forward with Black Hills TOU pilot

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission directed Black Hills Energy to develop a time-of-use rate pilot and file a proposal this fall.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018
Massachusetts utilities sign contracts to import Canadian hydropower

The Clean Energy Connect project, which will deliver the power, is generating controversy in Maine, where regulators say it should fund efficiency programs.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2018
Indiana cost consumers $140M by nixing efficiency program, AEC says

A new analysis from the Applied Economics Clinic joins a host of other research concluding the state's energy efficiency mandate was working before legislators eliminated the program in 2014.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2018
California Gov. Brown proposes reducing utility wildfire liability

The proposal would change rules currently requiring utilities to pay all damage costs if their equipment was involved in a fire, regardless of negligence.

By Robert Walton • July 26, 2018