Transmission & Distribution: Page 11


  • A man stands on a cart in an corridor between computer servers.
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    Courtesy of Google
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    Indiana Michigan Power, Amazon, Google, others agree on large load interconnection rules

    The agreement comes as the American Electric Power utility expects its peak demand to roughly double to 8 GW by 2030, driven by hyperscaler data center growth. 

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • Inside a data center for cryptocurrency mining with endless racks of CPU and motherboards.
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    luza studios via Getty Images
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    As bitcoin’s price and energy demand surge, Texas requires some miners to register with utility commission

    Texas Sen. Ted Cruz wants his state to be “an oasis” for bitcoin. But utility regulators say they need greater visibility into the stress that mining operators put on the electric grid. 

    By Nov. 25, 2024
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    Nathan Howard/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Electricity Supply and Demand

    After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

    By Utility Dive staff
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    Pexels / Diana

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    Sponsored by Kraken

    Unleashing the power of dynamic distribution pricing (Part 2)

    We can’t wait to implement dynamic distribution pricing while until we scale monitoring and analytics devices — here’s how utilities can start implementing pilots now.

    By Amaani Hamid and Emma Rodvien • Nov. 25, 2024
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    Bilanol via Getty Images
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    FERC expands states’ role in regional transmission planning, cost allocation

    “It is a … ‘Kumbaya’ moment, where there’s actually remarkable agreement between what the states wanted and what a bipartisan FERC provided,” Grid Strategies’ Rob Gramlich said.

    By Nov. 22, 2024
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    jdwfoto via Getty Images
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    Local transmission spending soars nationwide amid ‘serious absence of cost containment’

    In New England, Eversource and National Grid are advancing two local projects totaling $724 million as state utility regulators push for more oversight.

    By Nov. 20, 2024
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    redtea via Getty Images
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    Not just a ‘boondoggle’: State regulators, industrial companies push for cost effective transmission

    Proactive planning, incentives and competitive solicitations can help control transmission costs, the Brattle Group’s Johannes Pfeifenberger said.

    By Nov. 19, 2024
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    Cavan Images via Getty Images
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    Texas PUC approves $3B Oncor system resiliency plan

    Texas lawmakers authorized System Resiliency Plan filings last year and Oncor’s was the first to be approved. Regulators are also considering submissions from AEP, Texas-New Mexico Power and Entergy.

    By Nov. 18, 2024
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    Courtesy of Amazon
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    FERC urged to shield AES Ohio customers from expected grid costs due to 1.5-GW Amazon data center

    Language in a proposed agreement between AES Ohio and Amazon is “ambiguous,” leaving residential ratepayers without adequate protections, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel said.

    By Nov. 18, 2024
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    2024 Elections

    Trump taps North Dakota Gov. Burgum to run Interior, new national energy council

    President-elect Donald Trump said his administration will “dramatically” increase baseload power generation, which “will reduce the cost of electrical bills that continue to skyrocket for citizens and small businesses.”

    By Nov. 18, 2024
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    Shutterstock/ urbans

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    Sponsored by EnergyHub

    How to capture the full value of VPPs for a changing grid

    VPPs can be key to navigating industry challenges — but only if they are fully leveraged.

    Nov. 18, 2024
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    Ron Karpel via Getty Images
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    FERC approves MISO, SPP transmission plan expected to spur 29 GW of renewables

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission agreed the Joint Targeted Interconnection Queue transmission projects should be built by incumbent utilities without cost caps.

    By Nov. 15, 2024
  • High voltage power lines stand as dark skeletal monoliths against a stark sky filled with snow and the ground covered in snow.
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    Chimperil59 via Getty Images
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    Natural gas supply is a bulk power reliability risk this winter: NERC

    Gas producers have taken “a multitude of proactive measures to prepare for winter weather,” Natural Gas Supply Association CEO Dena Wiggins said.

    By Nov. 15, 2024
  • Workers installing dynamic line rating equipment on a transmission tower.
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    Courtesy of LineVision
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    State utility regulators urge Congress to fund advanced transmission technologies

    “Five years ago, people thought grid-enhancing technologies were unproven and risky,” DOE’s Jigar Shah said. “Today, I think people believe that they’re mainstream enough to deploy at scale.”

    By Nov. 14, 2024
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    stock.adobe.com/Daniel Avram

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    Sponsored by Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors

    Advanced DSM - broader, bigger, better

    Learn how DSM is being reshaped as a powerful new tool that can not only reduce demand, but also shape it and even grow it to meet economic and environmental goals.

    By Raegan Bond, Partner, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors, Philippe Dunsky, President and Founder, Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors • Nov. 11, 2024
  • Industrial background group silhouette of transmission towers (or power tower, electricity pylon, steel lattice tower) at suburb area in Texas, USA.
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    Trong Nguyen via Getty Images
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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 Nov. 7, 2024
  • President Donald Trump takes the stage during a campaign rally at the J.S. Dorton Arena on November 04, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    2024 Elections

    Trump 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 rein in transmission incentives, said Tyson Slocum, director of Public Citizen’s Energy Program.

    By Nov. 6, 2024
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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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 Nov. 5, 2024
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    Retrieved from WIRES Group.
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    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 Nov. 1, 2024
  • State-of-the-art data center server racks.
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    Quantic69 via Getty Images
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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 Oct. 31, 2024
  • A high-voltage electric transformer at a utility substation.
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    SBWorldphotography via Getty Images
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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 Oct. 31, 2024
  • Industrial power lines stretching across the Idaho desert
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    Jessica Torres via Getty Images
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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 Oct. 30, 2024
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    Cavan Images via Getty Images
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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 Oct. 29, 2024
  • Mutual assistance crews working with CenterPoint Energy work to restore power around Houston, Texas, following Hurricane Beryl.
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    Danielle Villasana/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    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 Oct. 29, 2024
  • The facade of a building with large windows and a sign that says "Federal Energy Regulatory Commission."
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    Permission granted by Esme Howland
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    2024 Elections

    How 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 Oct. 29, 2024
  • A blue car drives through a flooded street, spraying up water.
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    The image by Chesapeake Bay Program is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
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    Deep Dive

    APS, 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 Oct. 28, 2024