'Should have started yesterday': Why better transmission planning is urgently necessary for tomorrow's grid

The power mix is changing fast and it will cost ratepayers if transmission planners don’t catch up quickly, according to a new report from the Brattle Group.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 15, 2016

FERC revokes market-based rate authority for Berkshire Hathaway companies

Twenty Berkshire Hathaway Energy subsidaries in four balancing authority areas out West failed to rebut presumptions of horizontal market power. 

By Peter Maloney • June 14, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

Grid Resiliency

The risk from natural disasters like hurricanes, wildfires and heat waves is compounded by rising demand for power that threatens to put additional strain on the grid, as well as cyber and physical attacks on critical infrastructure.

By Utility Dive staff

The Rural Utilities Service: How the USDA is building a clean energy future for rural America

The USDA's RUS has backed rural communities since the 1930s and now has billions to dole out for renewables and efficiency projects for underserved populations.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 10, 2016

Maine PUC staff: Electric ratepayers should not pay for natural gas pipeline expansion

The report comes in the wake of a 2013 law that allowed regulators to authorize electric utilities to rate base investments in gas transport. 

By Gavin Bade • June 10, 2016

Little less talk: With new revenue models, New York starts to put REV into action

The reforms to utility revenues in the Empire State could set the course for a new model of 21st century power providers.

By Gavin Bade • June 9, 2016

MISO: FERC approves first storage interconnection agreement

The agreement is for Indianapolis Power & Light’s (IPL) Harding Street Station Battery Energy Storage System. 

By Peter Maloney • June 8, 2016

As funding for California's SGIP process grows, regulators look to bolster energy storage

But proposed modifications could change how fuel cell and energy storage technologies compete in the process. 

By Peter Maloney • June 7, 2016

New Jersey startup seeks to be the 'Uber' of battery storage delivery

Power Edison, a New Jersey startup, is offering grid-scale lithium-ion batteries as a plug and play strategy for utilities looking to defer new plant investments.

By Peter Maloney • June 6, 2016

Missouri munis contract for 200 MW of space on proposed Grain Belt Express line

The new off-takers may strengthen the merchant transmission developer’s appeal to state regulators, who denied it the power of eminent domain last year. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 6, 2016

FERC: Rooftop solar, battery storage could pose threats to reliability

As distributed resources spread, the line between federal and state jurisdiction over power assets needs to be re-evaluated, experts at a FERC technical conference said. 

By Robert Walton • June 3, 2016

Pennsylvania utility launches time-of-use pilot

Duquesne Light will provide customers with access to their energy usage in hourly increments, as part of the advanced metering project.

By Robert Walton • June 2, 2016

The head of California's ISO is on a mission to regionalize and decarbonize

CAISO CEO Steve Berberich wants help from utilities in bridging California’s borders and moving beyond 50% renewables.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 1, 2016

Efficiency, distributed resources save California customers $192M

The state is beginning to look at new revenue models that would encourage utilities to invest in projects they might have avoided in the past.

By Robert Walton • June 1, 2016

NH regulators delay Eversource proposed Northern Pass transmission line

The delay could have consequences for Massachusetts' clean energy goals and efforts to replace retired nuclear and fossil fuel generation. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 1, 2016

Great Plains Energy to buy rival Kansas utility Westar for $8.6B

The deal would give Great Plains, which owns Kansas City Power & Light, more than 1.5 million customers in Kansas and Missouri and over 13 GW of total generation.

By Gavin Bade • May 31, 2016

Survey: 60% of US energy executives expect 50% renewables by 2045

A new survey by KPMG Global Energy Institute also finds more than 90% of executives expect to be involved in a merger or acquisition in the next two years.

By Robert Walton • May 31, 2016

SPP CEO: Regionalization, transmission help push renewables penetration near 50%

Southwest Power Pool CEO Nick Brown says he sees solar, storage and more footprint expansion coming in the next five years.

By Gavin Bade • May 26, 2016

Across the 'valley of death': How the wind industry will cope without tax credits

Tax incentives are spurring so much renewables growth that states could meet their Clean Power Plan targets ahead of the compliance period. That could mean a slowdown for the wind industry, which was counting on the regulatory package to sustain growth. 

By Herman K. Trabish • May 25, 2016

Wisconsin utility proposes rate hikes for residential customers, but trims C&I bills

The requests for rate hikes will help pay for environmental upgrades at two coal-fired facilities in Wisconsin, Alliant Energy says. 

By Robert Walton • May 24, 2016

The U.S. needs more transmission. One Midwest project could provide a collaborative model.

A new report outlines how 11 utilities leaped big hurdles to build the 800-mile CapX2020 project.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 23, 2016

New York PSC enacts new revenue models for utilities in REV proceeding

Utilities in the Empire State have new options to earn revenue, though the traditional cost-of-service model was preserved by regulators as well.

By Gavin Bade • May 20, 2016

DOE releases comprehensive overview of efforts to cut solar costs

The SunShot program is 5 years into its 10 year run and 70% of the way to cutting solar cost to $0.06/kWh.  

By Herman K. Trabish • May 20, 2016

Power sector preparing for EMP attack among grid risks, EEI official tells Senate

The power sector is working with the federal government to harden the grid against a potential electromagnetic pulse attack, and to develop restoration strategies in the event one is successful.

By Robert Walton • May 20, 2016

Hunt withdraws previously-approved bid to acquire Oncor

Though Hunt says it is still trying to salvage a deal, the door could be open for other suitors, like NextEra.

By Gavin Bade • May 19, 2016

Xcel Colorado files for 600 MW wind project, the state's biggest ever installation

The utility wants to build the Rush Creek Wind facility in time to earn 100% of the federal tax credit.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 17, 2016