HECO aims to triple rooftop solar, get to 65% renewables by 2030

Microgrids, energy storage, community solar, and more demand response are coming to the islands.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 27, 2014

Xcel takes Boulder municipalization fight to FERC

The utility asks FERC to move the case from the courts to Colorado regulators.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 27, 2014

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

A utility in the making: The municipalization of Boulder, Colorado

 A fight between Colorado regulators and the district court will decide who owns the poles and wires.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 27, 2014

RMI: Electricity pricing must adapt to embrace distributed generation

But changes to traditional pricing structures could be disruptive, the report's authors warn.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2014

EIA: Investment in U.S. transmission grew five-fold from 1997 to 2012

Reliability and new capacity needs get buy-in from investors and private developers.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 26, 2014

Salt River Project mulls smart inverters to ease solar transition

The growth in rooftop solar installations could cause problems for the Arizona utility.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2014

TVA picks new $975M natural gas plant over coal plant retrofit

The TVA directors cut coal and add flexibility that could eventually support new renewables.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy wants to get rid of net metering

A new policy should pay for the grid and push distributed energy resources to peak periods, a company strategy paper says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 25, 2014

Judge: Perception trumps reality in transmission line siting dispute

A group of utilities seeking to build a power line in Minnesota must purchase all of an organic dairy farm because of the perceived threat of high-voltage transmission projects.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2014

How 4 utilities are turning distributed generation into an opportunity

Black & Veatch has a 6-step plan to help utilities "flip the DG equation."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2014

TVA raises rates, lowers spending

TVA said the rate increase was "modest" and below the rate of inflation.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2014

Ice bucket challenge gone wrong knocks out power in Kentucky town

Four firefighters were injured.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2014

FERC studying electricity market reforms

Chair LaFleur says price signals need to grow generation to supplement renewables’ advances.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2014

Kansas regulators ask FERC to cut Westar's 'unreasonable' transmission rates

The rare federal filling by state regulators says Westar’s ROE is "unjust and unreasonable."

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2014

U.S. transmission networks plagued by range of threats

An extremely complicated siting process is one reason the grid has been slow to evolve, some say.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2014

PG&E CEO: Billions in San Bruno explosion fines will not bankrupt us

Large fines could, however, send the utility into capital markets in search of financing.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2014

AES sees lithium ion batteries as future of energy storage business

The company says lithium-ion storage is cheaper than gas peaking plants.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2014

After flirting with municipalization, Minneapolis nears franchise agreements with utilities

The agreements will likely call for Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy to help Minneapolis achieve emissions reduction targets.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2014

SDG&E and stakeholders search for common ground on the way energy is priced

Stakeholders from Google to the California PUC are working together to figure out the future of the grid. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2014

Tucson Electric Power proposes new utility-owned rooftop solar program

The move comes shortly after Arizona Public Service proposed its own rooftop solar project.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2014

Pinnacle West forms new company to develop transmission out West

The two companies formed a 50-50 partnership to pursue the recently-approved Delaney-Colorado River 500 kV line.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2014

What are utilities doing with all their data?

Most data analytics programs are consumer-focused, according to a report.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2014

PJM may change capacity market rules in wake of Polar Vortex

Critics say new incentives may be aimed at aiding an ailing coal industry. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2014

Study: Consumers willing to pay more for greater reliability

The study also found 81% of consumers expect their utility to provide an increasing amount of power from renewable sources.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2014

Federal appeals court upholds FERC Order 1000

The unanimous decision upholds FERC's authority to require transmission-owning and operating utilities to participate in regional transmission planning.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 18, 2014