Transmission & Distribution

Opinion

Utilities aren't rewarded for saving money. FERC now has a chance to fix this

Current federal incentives for improving transmission all point the wrong way: rewarding utilities for building expensive, inefficient boondoggles, rather than making the most of what they already have, the authors write.

By Jigar Shah and Rob Gramlich • Sept. 23, 2020

White House authorizes $9.6B to rebuild Puerto Rico's grid, but how can it be spent?

The Trump administration also faces doubts about its intentions in announcing the disaster relief funding three years after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico — but less than two months before the November election.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2020

Pipelines, energy storage among 60+ projects expedited by Trump order waiving environmental regulations

Newly released documents provide details into some of the infrastructure projects that have been sped up by the Trump administration to help hasten the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Jenn Goodman • Sept. 21, 2020

FERC investigates risk of foreign adversary-supplied bulk power equipment, with focus on Huawei, ZTE

Experts say replacing bulk power system equipment from adversarial nations could cost the electric industry hundreds of millions of dollars.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2020

Deep Dive

Politics disrupts San Diego's pursuit of an energy transition partner amid dissatisfaction with SDG&E

San Diego's 50-year-old franchise agreement with San Diego Gas and Electric expires in January, but city leaders can't agree on standards for the next provider, leaving bidders, including Berkshire Hathaway Energy, waiting.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 18, 2020

Sponsored by Burns & McDonnell

Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond

Welcome to "Lessons from Disruption: Navigating the Pandemic and Beyond," a podcast series dedicated to further understanding how the utility industry can overcome the several challenges brought out by COVID-19 with technology and smart planning. 

By Utility Dive's Brand Studio • Sept. 18, 2020

How to participate in the 2020 Utility Dive Awards

Industry Dive is gearing up for the 2020 Dive Awards. We want to hear your ideas on the executives, utilities and policymakers that stood out.

By Utility Dive Editors • Sept. 17, 2020

Security experts cast doubt on FERC, NERC cyber intrusion response report findings

Federal regulators have published a report on how utilities can retake control of their networks once hackers get in, but some experts say the advice misses obvious responses and could allow hackers to inflict additional damage.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2020

Opinion

Big changes may be ahead for natural gas pipelines, if FERC does its job

Pipelines risk becoming costly stranded assets if they are built without a serious look at how they fit with decarbonization goals. But FERC refuses to grapple with these issues, the author writes.

By Jessica Bell • Sept. 16, 2020

SPP, MISO launch joint transmission study to address renewables interconnection challenges

Wind and solar advocates say addressing interconnection challenges along the seams of regional grids could allow development of thousands of megawatts of clean energy.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 15, 2020

District of Columbia board advances required grid mod investment 4 years after Exelon-Pepco merger

The PowerPath DC Governance Board is overseeing a $21.5 million pilot project fund to modernize the city's energy grid.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2020

FERC rejection of NYISO renewables plan could prompt state-managed capacity market, advocates say

The commission's lone Democrat dissented, saying FERC has "perverted" the New York ISO's buyer-side market power mitigation rules to slow the state's clean energy transition.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2020

California scrambles to prevent rolling blackouts amid heat wave, with DOE assist on gas plant dispatch

The DOE's order allowing additional dispatch from three natural gas plants if needed served as a "wake-up call" to pursue alternatives to maintain reliability, according to one expert.

By Kavya Balaraman • Sept. 09, 2020

Utility sector wary of new security rules for distributed resources

Federal regulators are considering stricter security rules for smaller grid resources, but the utility sector says ample protections are in place.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 08, 2020

Taking Charge: Decisionmakers shaping the future of the power sector

Utility Dive turns to the CEO of Fluence to discuss the role of storage in high renewable energy integration, and more.

By Utility Dive Editors • Sept. 04, 2020

Massachusetts top court denies NextEra bid to block state's PPAs with Hydro-Québec

The PPAs are critical to the development of the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project, which has faced challenges from independent power generators trying to protect their older assets in the region.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 04, 2020

FERC reversal on electric co-op exit fee jurisdiction could have broader rate implications, analysts say

The decision is a win for Tri-State in its ongoing dispute with cooperative members seeking to exit its service. But experts say FERC's determination that exit fees are a part of wholesale rates will likely impact future rate cases.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 03, 2020

Deep Dive

FERC summit highlights reliability concerns for renewables + storage, but has California found a solution?

In a day-long FERC conference on renewables+storage hybrids earlier this summer, system operators focused on reliability while advocates described new opportunities.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 03, 2020

Opinion

Tackling the biggest obstacle to new transmission — power providers' commitment phobia

The current business model that rests everything on a unit of measure — the kilowatt-hour — disincentivizes investments in transmission infrastructure because the surety of repayment is in question, the author writes.

By Mark A. Gabriel • Sept. 03, 2020

Cutting ties with ComEd could cost Chicago $8.8B, report finds

As a result of the hefty expected costs of separation, city leaders say creating Chicago's own municipal utility is likely not feasible.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 01, 2020

Deep Dive

As utility collaboration with charging companies rises, emerging differences could impede EV growth

To accelerate EV charging infrastructure deployment, former competitors are working together, but new questions threaten to lead to dissension.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 31, 2020

Louisiana bears brunt of Hurricane Laura as utility COVID-19 protocols threaten restoration time

The utility sector launched a major restoration initiative, with tens of thousands of mutual aid workers helping to return power. Their efforts may be slowed by new COVID-19 protocols, however. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 28, 2020

Following botched utility response to Hurricane Isaias, New York governor proposes stricter penalties

"The laws are too protective of the utility companies," said Andrew Cuomo. He is proposing legislation to make it easier for the state to revoke a utility's operating certificate for recurring failures and increase financial penalties.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2020

Puerto Rico regulators set island on a 5-year course to procure renewables, storage

The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will need to procure at least 3.5 GW of solar and 1.36 GW of battery storage by 2025, but new gas-fired generation was rejected.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2020

Energy consulting groups value Southeast RTO potential at $384B savings by 2040

A seven-state RTO, including Florida, Tennessee and the Carolinas, would phase out coal generation and add more storage and renewables into the mix, according to analysis from Vibrant Clean Energy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 25, 2020