Eggnog and efficiency: How the holiday season affects utilities

Holiday efficiency tips seem like small savings next to credit card bills that come due in January, but utilities say they can add up and keep demand down.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2014

How power companies can get to Utility 2.0 and beyond

New distributed generation and a new distribution system are at the heart of a whole new way to make and sell electricity.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 11, 2014

Explore the Trendline➔

Grid Resiliency

Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

How utilities can prepare for the bigger, badder storms of the future

New research from DNV GL has frightening forecasts for physical grid security, but there are things utilities can do to adapt.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 9, 2014

Reports: Faulty cable caused Detroit blackout

But why the cable failed is still under investigation.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 3, 2014

HECO begins charging monthly fee for green investment

Thanks to another surcharge reduction, however, most customers will see little change in their bills.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 3, 2014

Ariz. muni SRP proposes higher fixed charges for solar customers

SRP claims it is losing $51 per month to solar customers that non-solar owners have to cover.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 3, 2014

Detroit hit by major power outage

Last year, a similar outage hit the city's downtown public buildings.

By Davide Savenije • Dec. 2, 2014

Survey: Nearly all rural co-ops have smart grid initiatives

Some 42% are making smart grid efforts part of their core operations.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2014

WAPA, CAISO face penalties related to 2011 blackouts

A 2011 blackout left 5 million people in the region without power for up to 12 hours.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2014

Regulators approve higher fixed charges for Madison Gas & Electric

Fixed monthly electric customer fees will rise more than 80% to $19.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2014

Mich. efficiency programs save $4 for every $1 invested

The state's efficiency programs exceeded expectations last year.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2014

Florida regulators slash efficiency targets, end solar rebates

Utilities say pushing efficiency costs more than building new generation.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2014

PG&E hires new security firm for embattled substation

The Metcalf substation was disabled by gunfire in 2013 and robbed earlier this year.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 29, 2014

Midwest renewables take a big step closer to eastern markets

Illinois regulators okay Clean Line project from Iowa to PJM, will soon consider a line from Kansas.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 27, 2014

Will plug-in vehicles become the ultimate grid resource?

Adoption is growing, and there is potential for electric vehicles to help power the grid and assist in demand response.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

Will Santa Fe be the next city to municipalize its electric utility?

The city council could vote next month to form Santa Fe Public Power.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

NSA: Foreign hackers could crash utility systems

About 40% of cyberattacks across all critical infrastructure sectors were in the energy sector, NSA says.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

NERC: Resources adequate for winter, worries remain on extreme cold

Periods of extreme cold would stress the power grid, however.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

Wind power saved Southwest Power Pool ratepayers $1.2B in 2013

Saving came from eliminating fossil fuel costs, reducing water use, and avoiding pollution.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2014

Solar and wind beat the price of coal and gas in many markets

Renewables have integration costs and but new analysis from Lazard shows their megawatt hour cost can be lower than fossil fuels.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2014

PJM prices hit November record in cold snap

The first real blast of winter air has PJM worried about the months ahead.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2014

SolarCity partners with HECO to study solutions to solar problems

The collaboration could signal a new paradigm in cooperation between solar installers and utilities.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 20, 2014

How the U.S. will get a third of its energy from wind by midcentury

A new study sets big targets, but the wind industry beat DOE’s projections many called “unachievable."

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2014

HECO wants to make your water heater a grid resource

Hawaiian Electric thinks the energy stored in water heaters can help it deal with high solar penetration.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2014

How solar owners can be 'good citizens of the grid'

Smart technologies and smart attitudes can make the grid more reliable, even with lots of solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 19, 2014