'Eternal vigilance': DC regulators on the Exelon-Pepco merger and what's next for the PSC

After a 2-1 vote to create the nation's largest utility company, Utility Dive obtained exclusive interviews with regulators on opposing sides of the decision. Here's what they had to say. 

By Gavin Bade • March 29, 2016

How utilities can turn DERs from threat into opportunity

Locational planning is just the beginning. Utilities need to plan from top to bottom for the coming proliferation of distributed energy resources, according to a new white paper.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2016

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

ERCOT: Wind, solar nearly two-thirds new capacity in 2016

The ERCOT system capacity is expected to grow almost 12,500 MW while coal declines and nuclear stagnates. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 16, 2016

ComEd forges ahead with ambitious microgrid plans amid legislative debate

A $4 million DOE grant could help ComEd build up to six microgrids in Chicago, depending on the outcome of pending legislation.

By Peter Maloney • March 15, 2016

HECO, E-Gear try storage to resolve solar installation bottleneck in Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric and E-Gear to deploy storage pilot program to address solar installation bottleneck on Molokai.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2016

Texas regulators delay Oncor vote, push Hunt to draft proposal on deal

Many had expected the Public Utility Commission of Texas to vote on Hunt Consolidated's plan to transform Oncor into a Real Estate Investment trust, but regulators instead have opened another proceeding for Hunt to submit a proposal on how it plans to transform the utility. 

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2016

AEP taps GE software for new distribution management system

As utilities shift to a future with more distributed assets on the grid, finding systems to manage them as one is paramount.

By Peter Maloney • March 4, 2016

New York REV shows utilities and regulators how to manage change

In this guest post, Eleanor Stein, a former PSC judge and REV project manager, offers insight on how coordination between utilities, regulators, and the public can boost trust in the regulatory process.

By Eleanor Stein • March 3, 2016

As Xcel pushes non-wire alternatives, solar+storage pilot sparks utility ownership debate

Everyone loves that Xcel Minnesota is considering DERs instead of traditional infrastructure, but not that the utility wants to own them itself.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 3, 2016

Long live the duck — and may he fly flat

In this guest post, Jim Lazar, senior advisor at the Regulatory Assistance Project, offers new techniques to combat the dreaded Duck Curve

By Jim Lazar • March 2, 2016

The sector favorite: Storage tops utility tech picks for second year running

Utility Dive's third annual survey of electric utility professionals shows even greater interest in energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • March 1, 2016

Minnesota Power line approved to link Canadian hydro and storage to Midwest wind

The Great Northern transmission line line will help the Minnesota utility access hydropower and pumped storage facilities in Manitoba. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 1, 2016

Senate set for full vote on bipartisan energy bill after Flint funding impasse

After the legislation was delayed over funding for the Flint water crisis, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who is shepherding the bill, says lawmakers could knock it out in a single afternoon.

By Robert Walton • March 1, 2016

Sunvault-Edison Power solar+storage project in Delaware could use graphene technology

A small solar + storge project in Delaware is vying to be one of the first to incorporate graphene storage technology.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 25, 2016

Partnering for success: Utilities leverage innovative vendor relationships at the grid edge

From smart meters to distribution automation and residential storage, opportunities abound for utilities bold enough to reach out to innovative third parties. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2016

Taming the Wild West: CAISO begins study of a full regional electricity market

The California ISO is beginning a landmark study on whether a regional grid will ease the state's transition to 50% renewables by 2030. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 22, 2016

Louisiana judge casts doubt on Cleco merger ahead of PSC vote

An inernational firm wants to take Louisiana utility Cleco private, but many are questioning what's in it for ratepayers who currently have a sound and well-run power provider.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2016

Is a national high voltage transmission system the cheapest way to cut emissions?

NOAA researchers say a national plan to efficiently connect clean energy resources to demand centers can cut power sector GHGs 80% with no electricity price bump.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2016

Beyond net metering: How location can help put a value on DERs

Finding the precise locational value of distributed energy resources is key to ongoing and future value-of-solar proceedings, a report said. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 18, 2016

17 governors sign pledge to modernize US power grid

A bipartisan group of governors around the country have committed to diversify energy generation, expand clean energy and modernize energy infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2016

Minnesota PUC reject Minnesota Power's plan to lower rates for struggling mills

The proposal would have dropped the energy bills of companies facing foreign competiton by 5%. The Public Utilities Commission rejected the plan, but without prejudice, meaning Minnesota Power will likely resubmit some form of the proposal.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016

SoCal Edison to invest up to $2.5B to integrate DERs over 5-year span

Integrating distributed energy resources into the distribution network is not going to be cheap. Southern California Edison is preparing to spend up to $2.5 billion, including $500 million on new software, to prepare its grid for DERs over a five-year span.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 12, 2016

DistribuTECH 2016: Increasingly at home with DERs, utilities shift focus to controlling them on the grid

The big question for utilities in 2016 isn’t whether they will be able to integrate DERs — it’s how they will be able to manage them all on the grid.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 11, 2016

Canada's Fortis to buy ITC Holdings in $11.3B deal

Canadian company Fortis Inc. is moving to acquire ITC Holdings Corp. in a bid to enter the FERC-regulated U.S. transmission market. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Feb. 9, 2016

CA lawmakers: PacifiCorp-CAISO regional market could hurt clean energy targets

Integrating PacifiCorp into the California Independent System Operator's grid could save billions of dollars, but lawmakers are wary of any plan that would "cede authority of our state’s cutting edge clean energy and climate policies."

By Robert Walton • Feb. 8, 2016