Transmission & Distribution

A utility’s journey to a more digital customer experience

 Everyday life is becoming increasingly digital. That applies to utilities and their customers, too. 

By Nicole Pennington, Senior Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe and Amanda Aweh, Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe • Aug. 15, 2022

New York regulators OK key National Grid, Invenergy transmission projects, reject NextEra solar farm

The transmission projects support New York’s clean energy goals, but NextEra Energy Resources’ 180-MW North Side solar farm was rejected over environmental concerns. 

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Grid 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

MISO benefit-cost analysis of $10.3B transmission plan offers framework for national model: ACORE report

“When the benefits of proposed transmission lines are fully calculated, the advantages of new lines are made clear to regional planners,” Gregory Wetstone, ACORE president and CEO, said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2022

MISO transmission ROEs vacated by D.C. Circuit, sending FERC back to the drawing board

The court decision Tuesday was “a big win for consumers,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Richard Glick said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2022

Xcel Energy expects to build $1.2B in power line projects under MISO’s new $10.3B transmission plan

At $7.4 billion, transmission spending makes up the second-largest piece of Xcel’s 5-year capital expenditure plan.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 9, 2022

Ameren seeks FERC rate approval for N.M. transmission lines to ship power from 680-MW Clearway wind project

The power lines are designed to deliver wind energy to the Four Corners trading hub, which connects to major transmission lines across the Southwest.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 8, 2022

Electrifying fleet customers – How utilities can capitalize on the coming fleet electrification wave (before it’s too late)

Utilities have a critical role in the coming wave of commercial vehicle electrification. Fleet advisory services are necessary to determine infrastructure needs to successfully manage new charging demands.

Aug. 8, 2022

NextEra’s ‘game-changing’ Real Zero emissions goal spurs questions about hydrogen, demand-side management

NextEra, the world’s biggest IOU by market cap, wants a “real” reduction of all carbon emissions by FPL, its regulated subsidiary, with solar, batteries and green hydrogen, but it will go without much help from the demand side.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2022

Transmission planners underestimate economic value of new links to handle extreme grid conditions: LBNL study

There are potential regional and interregional transmission links that could help cut electricity costs but aren’t being fully valued by transmission planners, federal researchers said on Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 2, 2022

MGM Resorts, others urge FERC to reject incentives for NV Energy’s $2.5B Greenlink transmission project

Public Citizen pointed to NV Energy parent company Berkshire Hathaway’s strong capitalization and liquidity, saying they allow it to “mitigate risk for Greenlink without need to force captive customers to pay incentive rates.”

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 2, 2022

Reserve margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 as more renewables added to grid: ISO New England

A scenario where reliability criteria are met using only solar, wind and storage would challenge the transmission system and require “an outsized amount of land or offshore areas” for wind and solar farms, ISO-NE found.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

FERC, NERC urge North American Energy Standards Board to help boost gas-electric coordination

NAESB announced plans last year to support improved coordination between the natural gas and electricity markets, but that initiative has made little progress.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

FERC, Kentucky regulators call for consumer protections, competition in transmission development

“I'm a big believer that competition, whether it be in the generation sector or transmission sector … can be very helpful to consumers,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Richard Glick said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • July 29, 2022

New York announces 2-GW offshore wind solicitation with a focus on supply chain infrastructure

The state, which already has the largest offshore wind portfolio in the nation, published a third solicitation that includes the first phase of its $500 million investment in wind ports and manufacturing.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 28, 2022

With Manchin’s support, Democrats unveil bill with $369B in energy, climate spending

The legislation invests in hydrogen, nuclear and renewable energy, fossil fuel and energy storage technologies, according to West Virginia Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2022

FERC OKs MISO plan to give certain transmission projects to incumbent utilities without competitive bidding

Four FERC commissioners warned that transmission planning processes may lack consumer safeguards, however.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2022

Western RTO could add up to $79.2 billion to regional economy, report finds

The report, commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy, found that every individual Western state, as well as the region as a whole, would see economic benefits from an RTO.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 27, 2022

MISO board approves $10.3B transmission plan to support 53 GW of renewables

MISO expects the transmission projects will provide up to $52.2 billion in net benefits over 40 years.

By Ethan Howland • July 26, 2022

Anschutz's TransWest project applies to join CAISO in bid to send wind power from Wyoming to California

In a first phase, TransWest could deliver 1,500 MW of Wyoming wind to California and other states by 2026, according to the company.

By Ethan Howland • July 26, 2022

Lack of policy to broaden regional transmission investment opportunity is holding development back

The industry needs policies in place to incentivize those who host regional transmission facilities by providing them with an opportunity to invest in this infrastructure – and earn a profit, the author writes.

By Matt Lacey • July 25, 2022

Oregon utilities outline plans to prevent and mitigate wildfires in their service territories

The utilities’ plans include their processes for rolling out public safety power shutoffs: the process of proactively de-energizing power lines during weather conditions that increase the risk of wildfire.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 25, 2022

Biden executive order on power system cybersecurity leaves critical operations vulnerable, experts say

From mysterious electronics in Chinese transformers to sensors without password protections, analysts see growing vulnerabilities in U.S. power system operations.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 25, 2022

Customer groups seek to end utility lock on transmission development in MISO states

The groups urged the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to bar the grid operator from assigning projects to utilities in a pending transmission plan, according to the Friday complaint.

By Ethan Howland • July 25, 2022

Massachusetts passes 'landmark' climate bill to decarbonize multiple sectors, add 5.6 GW offshore wind

The wide-ranging bill supports the decarbonization of the state’s building and transportation sectors, scrapping language that would have blocked residential retail energy choice.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 22, 2022

TSA revises cybersecurity requirements for oil and gas pipelines

The agency released performance-based requirements after extensive industry debate following the May 2021 Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack.

By David Jones • July 22, 2022