Transmission & Distribution
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Transmission is ‘best low-risk, high-growth’ way to play the AI-energy boom, says Sempra CEO
Sempra utility Oncor says it could be selected to build a “significant portion” of more than $13 billion in transmission projects planned for the Permian Basin of Texas through 2038.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 7, 2024 -
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2024 ElectionsTrump win is ‘setback’ for climate protection, but clean energy advocates say progress will continue
Trump’s victory means a Republican will be selected to lead FERC, which will likely work to reign in transmission incentives, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen's Energy Program.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2024 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineGrid Resiliency
Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.
By Utility Dive staff -
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US should add 35 GW of interregional power transfer capacity to boost energy adequacy: NERC
NERC said its new study “demonstrates a significant opportunity to optimize reserve use during extreme weather events and shows how transmission can maximize the use of local resources, including storage and demand response.”
By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2024 -
Retrieved from WIRES Group.
FERC’s Rosner pushes state flexibility in transmission planning rehearing order
Rosner said his top priorities are grid reliability balanced with affordability, managing the energy transition and supporting gas and transmission infrastructure development.
By Ethan Howland • Nov. 1, 2024 -
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States should procure power supplies outside PJM capacity auctions: FirstEnergy CEO
Capacity concerns come amid a surge in data center development, with FirstEnergy receiving more than 60 service inquiries larger than 500 MW this year.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2024 -
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Exelon’s ‘high probability’ data center load has nearly doubled to 11 GW, CEO says
Meanwhile, the PJM Interconnection’s plan to delay an upcoming capacity auction “sends a clear message that [market] reform is definitely needed,” CEO Calvin Butler said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2024 -
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SPP OKs $7.7B transmission plan targeting ‘generational challenges’ with power supply and demand
The projects have benefit-cost ratios of at least 8 to 1 and are expected to pay for themselves within three years, according to the Southwest Power Pool.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2024 -
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US district court rules Texas transmission law favoring incumbent utilities unconstitutional
The ruling is a win for NextEra Energy and LS Power transmission subsidiaries as well as the East Texas Electric Cooperative.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Danielle Villasana/Getty Images via Getty Images
CenterPoint acquires smaller generators to aid in grid restorations, following Hurricane Beryl criticism
An independent analysis of CenterPoint’s July storm response included 77 recommendations, two-thirds of which the utility has already completed or is in the process of implementing.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2024 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
2024 ElectionsHow will the presidential and Senate election outcomes affect FERC and its policies?
The FERC chairman plays a key role in setting the agency’s agenda, but even if Donald Trump wins, the commission could have a Democratic majority for at least 18 months.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 29, 2024 -
The image by Chesapeake Bay Program is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Deep DiveAPS, Duke, other utilities pursue new climate resilience strategies as some await upcoming tools
APS and Duke, along with Central Hudson Gas & Electric, PacifiCorp and Puget Sound Energy, see different paths to reach resilience planning’s potential while awaiting EPRI metrics to address uncertainties.
By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 28, 2024 -
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OpinionWhere the wires meet the road: Fixing missed opportunities for long-distance transmission
We need to find ways to better integrate the planning of transmission and the siting of transmission from the get-go so that we don’t end up in situations where ideal pathways for transmission are missed.
By Adam Kurland • Oct. 28, 2024 -
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AEP Ohio reaches agreement with stakeholders on data center interconnection rules
The rate proposal comes as half of surveyed utilities are facing data center service requests for more than 1,000 MW each, according to an EPRI report.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 24, 2024 -
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DTE on pace for more than $4B in reliability, smart grid investment this year
A September audit concluded DTE’s electric power restoration times are “worse than average.” Utility officials say their proposed investment plan will deliver “dramatic improvement.”
By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2024 -
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OpinionUtilities’ hidden clean energy tax is at the heart of our energy challenges
Ending utility self-funding is central to FERC’s efforts to change utilities’ incentives and push them to tackle more ambitious high-voltage projects.
By Ari Peskoe • Oct. 24, 2024 -
Marc Piscotty/Getty Images via Getty Images
Nearly 100 utilities’ credit ratings downgraded since 2020 as wildfire risks grow
Rising insurance and mitigation costs threaten utilities' financial stability, but there may be hope on the horizon, according to a report from Charles River Associates.
By Emma Penrod • Oct. 23, 2024 -
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AI, data center load could drive ‘extraordinary’ rise in US electricity bills: Bain analyst
Utility revenue requirements to serve growing data center electricity demand could increase customer bills by 1% annually through 2032, according to Bain & Company.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2024 -
Permission granted by LineVision
DOE selects nearly $2B in projects for grid resilience funding
The projects will boost transmission capacity by more than 7.5 GW, accelerate interconnection for clean energy and spark over $4.2 billion in public and private investment, according to DOE.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
FERC bars payments for ‘deadband’ reactive power, plus 4 other open meeting takeaways
Renewable energy trade groups, Public Service Enterprise Group and other generators opposed the agency’s decision on reactive power.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 18, 2024 -
Tim Newman via Getty Images
BPA plans $3 billion in transmission projects, including 500-kV lines
The planned transmission across Oregon and Washington comes as the Southwest Power Pool and California Independent System Operator aim to expand wholesale power markets in the West.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2024 -
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Sponsored by Smarter Grid SolutionsFrom aggregation to action: Implementing effective behind-the-meter control strategies with Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS)
Discover how implementing a DERMS solution will help you utilize BTM DERs for grid reliability
Oct. 15, 2024 -
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Tribal nations want utility-scale clean energy, but upfront costs pose a barrier
The deposit required to remain in an interconnection queue can cost tribes $5 million dollars on short notice, says Chéri Smith, CEO of the Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy.
By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 14, 2024 -
Courtesy of QTS Data Centers
AEP Ohio urges PUC to reject ‘Hail Mary’ data center tariff proposal from Amazon, others
Google, Microsoft and Meta joined Constellation Energy and other organizations last week in proposing terms for connecting “electricity-intensive” customers to the grid.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2024 -
Courtesy of GE Vernova
PJM aims to fast-track reliability projects in interconnection queue
The PJM Interconnection’s plan to allow a limited number of reliability-oriented generating projects to enter an interconnection study process early next year sparked concerns from some stakeholders, including Invenergy.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 9, 2024 -
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OpinionOpportunities and obstacles for the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission
The memorandum of understanding that established the collaborative is remarkable for the sheer number of states involved and the fact that it covers three independent system operators: ISO-NE, NYISO and PJM.
Oct. 9, 2024
