MISO states push for authority over DER in electricity markets at FERC meeting

The states want to be able to choose whether they allow distributed resource aggregations to play in both retail and wholesale markets.  

By Gavin Bade • April 11, 2018

Whitefish Energy still owed $100M by Puerto Rico utility, court filing says

The Montana-based company has thrust itself itself into an advisor's fee application proceeding in an effort to push its financial claims forward.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

NYPA proposes rebuilding North-South transmission lines to bolster renewable energy

The rebuilt lines will be upgraded to 345 kV, an increase in voltage that allows more renewable energy onto the system in times of high demand.

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2018

Pipeline hack impacts spread to power sector

Duke Energy customers in Ohio could see late or estimated bills after the utility took preemptive steps following a cyberattack on its communications system. 

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2018

Anchorage voters near approval of $1B deal to merge muni with Chugach Electric

The merger is expected to help streamline operations of the adjacent utilities in the state's largest city, saving customers millions.

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 5, 2018

The two key questions about going to 100% renewables in Los Angeles

The city council wants its municipal utility to reach the clean energy goal, and a new report says it can by 2030 — if the utility can learn new ways.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 5, 2018

Powerex, Idaho Power join the western Energy Imbalance Market

The California ISO's Energy Imbalance Market now includes utilities spanning more than half of the Western Interconnection.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2018

EIA: Mild weather drove big drop in 2017 US electricity sales

Retail power sales fell by 80 billion kWh last year, the largest drop since the economic recession in 2009.

By Robert Walton • April 5, 2018

Unnecessary complexity? Assessing New York and California's landmark DER proceedings

New York and California have spent years opening opportunities for distributed energy resources with minimal real impact. Could they have done it differently?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2018

Energy efficiency, rooftop solar to trim New England power use, draft report says

The ISO New England findings align with a national trend of stagnant, even declining demand due to efficiency measures in particular.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 3, 2018

Utilities take note: Hybrid renewables projects are coming

In 2017, combinations of cost-effective renewables plus storage went online, with more due this year. And 2019 looks like a hybrid boom year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 3, 2018

California ISO mulls double duty for transmission-connected storage assets

The grid operator will explore how electric storage resources providing cost-based services might also operate in wholesale markets.

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2018

New York is changing the face of energy innovation

Launched in August of 2017 by New York State to help implement the State’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV),  REV Connect brings solution providers and New York’s six investor-owned utilities together to accelerate innovation.

April 3, 2018

Market-based IRPs: A new paradigm for grid planning?

Instead of forecasts, utilities like Hawaiian Electric and Xcel are beginning to use real-world prices in their integrated resource plans, allowing them to better compare renewables and DERs to traditional grid investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 2, 2018

Dominion threatens to leave SCE&G deal if South Carolina lawmakers cut rates

State lawmakers appear close to reducing SCE&G customer bills, cutting the amount they would pay for the canceled V.C. Summer nuclear plant. 

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2018

Kentucky utilities push back on state-ordered rate reductions

The Kentucky Public Service Commission last week ordered Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to cut rates in response to the lower corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Massachusetts ditches Northern Pass, looks to CMP for clean energy goals

The state will pivot instead to Central Maine Power's New England Clean Energy Connect that will add 1,200 MW of transmission capacity to help meet its renewables goals. 

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

DOE terminates partnership with Clean Line Energy Partners

The $2 billion project aims to deliver 3.5 GW of low-cost wind power to Tennessee and the southeastern United States.

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018

Smart transmission: How FERC can spur modernization of the bulk power system

Transmission technology vendors say their products could save electricity consumers billions — if utilities were incentivized to invest.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2018

Efficiency, DERs saving $2.6B in avoided transmission costs, CAISO says

The grid operator last week approved a new transmission plan that modified or canceled several projects. 

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018

PG&E rolls out plan to tackle wildfire threats

The plan includes a network of utility-owned and operated weather stations across the company's service territory as well as hardening efforts that include developing community microgrids.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018

Energy groups see $1.3 trillion omnibus as repudiation of Trump priorities

The budget bill, approved by the House and Senate on Thursday, would boost clean energy funding at DOE and increase appropriations for co-ops to expand rural broadband service.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018

On the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system

Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018

Duke issues climate report, charts path to reduce coal use by 2030

While the report says a zero-coal scenario is possible, the utility currently plans to trim coal use to 16% by 2030 by heavily investing in natural gas.

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2018

Hackers target Puerto Rico utility

News of a cyberattack on PREPA comes a week after federal authorities issued an alert warning Russian hackers have engaged in a long-term campaign to infiltrate and surveil critical U.S. infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2018