Not ‘sick or dying or dead’: The great benefit of RTOs

To argue that some regional transmission organizations have imperfections is somewhat akin to saying, “nobody is perfect.”

By Scott Miller • March 23, 2023

FERC approves incentives for NV Energy’s $2.5B Greenlink project despite ratepayer concerns

“If the commission determines it is appropriate to channel risks to consumers, those risks must be carefully weighed and considered,” FERC Commissioner Mark Christie said.

By Ethan Howland • March 23, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

The Utility Dive Outlook on 2023

2023 promises to be another busy year for the U.S. energy transition as stakeholders move to implement new clean energy measures while tackling growing security, reliability, equity and affordability challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

FERC approves canceling NextEra transmission project blocked by Texas right-of-first-refusal law

The agency rejected NextEra Energy’s argument the $129 million project should be kept alive because litigation over the law is ongoing.

By Ethan Howland • March 21, 2023

Transmission link between Puerto Rico, US mainland wouldn’t trigger FERC jurisdiction, agency declares

The clarification issued Friday could affect Alternative Transmission’s proposed undersea cable project that aims to bolster Puerto Rico’s grid.

By Ethan Howland • March 20, 2023

FERC works ‘feverishly’ on transmission reform, with near-term focus on interconnection rule

“Transmission reform addresses all of the major priorities that I've set out for this commission: reliability, affordability and sustainability,” Acting FERC Chairman Willie Phillips said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • March 17, 2023

Treasury Department guidance urgently needed to tap IRA’s clean energy ‘gold mine,’ analysts say

Clarifications defining Inflation Reduction Act provisions on labor, domestic content, energy community, and clean hydrogen are urgently needed to put the “boldest action” by Congress to work, they say.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2023

Texas regulators to set Oncor return on equity at 9.7%, maintain capital structure in pending rate decision

The decision reflects a challenging business environment and Oncor’s work to minimize customer outages — though it also factors in lagging interconnection times, regulators said.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2023

Confidential PJM meetings hinder state energy policy, oversight: West Virginia PSC, Maryland lawmaker

Efforts are underway to increase transparency at the largest U.S. grid operator, with Exelon and FirstEnergy opposing a bill to require annual voting reports of PJM meetings.

By Ethan Howland • March 14, 2023

Lower gas prices to drive 35%-45% ‘plunge’ in 2023 peak power prices across most of US: Moody’s

California is the exception, where peak prices are expected to fall “only around 9%,” according to the ratings and financial research agency.

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2023

‘Welcome to ERCOT.’ Regulators approve city of Lubbock, Texas, shift to retail competition

The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Thursday authorized the move after a last-minute agreement was struck regarding the allocation of termination fee proceeds.

By Robert Walton • March 10, 2023

Grid operators oppose FERC conference on barriers to merchant interregional HVDC transmission

But Invenergy’s petition for a conference was backed Wednesday by state utility regulators, renewable energy advocates, consumer groups and transmission companies.

By Ethan Howland • March 9, 2023

Supreme Court asks solicitor general to weigh in on Texas law banning non-incumbent transmission

The Department of Justice has twice before said states’ “anti-competition” transmission laws violate the U.S. Constitution’s dormant Commerce Clause, said Ari Peskoe, director of the Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative.

By Ethan Howland • March 7, 2023

Are RTOs and ISOs sick, dying or dead?

Three recent occurrences illustrate that the regional transmission organization/independent system operator regulatory model is spent.

By Raymond L. Gifford and Matthew S. Larson • March 6, 2023

DOE finds ‘pressing’ transmission needs, with interregional links offering the biggest benefits

“Large amounts of low-cost generation potential exist in the middle of the country and accessing this generation through increased transmission is cost effective for neighboring regions,” DOE said in a draft report.

By Ethan Howland • March 6, 2023

The jump to widespread EV adoption doesn’t need to be a long way up

The customer experience should be simple; designed to effortlessly guide and support the consumer as they advance in their EV and EV charging journey.

By Danielle Marquis, Vice President of Solution Management for Franklin Energy • March 6, 2023

House Republicans advance infrastructure permitting reform as part of 16-bill energy package

The first legislative step could lead to negotiations with the Senate this summer on permitting reform for transmission and pipelines, according to Akin Gump attorneys.

By Ethan Howland • March 1, 2023

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023

Advanced Energy United warns frameworks needed for transmission buildout ‘don’t really exist’

Building out transmission in the U.S. will require strong federal leadership as well as interstate and interregional coordination, said AEU’s transmission campaign director, Verna Mandez. 

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 27, 2023

PJM launches fast-track capacity market reform process in face of shrinking reserve margins

The effort comes as the PJM Interconnection finds new resources aren’t keeping pace with power plant retirements and load growth.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2023

DOE announces $48M to improve semiconductor technologies for better grid control and protection

The program will be managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and will focus on improving semiconductors, which are essential components in controlling power generation and transmission.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2023

State bills spur debate over who should build transmission: incumbent utilities or independent companies

Companies such as LS Power, NextEra, Evergy and ITC Great Plains are pressing lawmakers on bills that may determine who can build transmission projects costing in the billions of dollars across the central United States.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2023

New power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say

Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023

NY PSC authorizes $4.4B in transmission upgrades planned by National Grid, other utilities

The projects will create 3,500 MW for clean energy that New York says will be enough for more than 2.8 million homes.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 17, 2023

Proposed distribution transformer standards ‘could significantly impact’ grid reliability, utilities warn DOE

The sole domestic manufacturer of amorphous steel cores for distribution transformers says it could quickly scale up production to meet U.S. demand if new energy efficiency standards are adopted.

By Robert Walton • Updated Feb. 17, 2023

NextEra, renewable trade group urge FERC to keep competitively bid East Texas transmission project alive

Entergy supports the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s plan to cancel the $115 million project, which has been delayed by a right-of-first-refusal law.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 14, 2023