Transmission & Distribution: Page 2

FERC to reopen 1999 policy on gas project approvals, add environmental justice considerations

Though the vote was unanimous, commissioners had differing opinions on the necessity of proceeding, and to what extent policy should change.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2021

Congress, Texas should 'rethink' ERCOT's 'go it alone approach': FERC Chair Glick

"Texans would be without electricity for longer than three days to keep the federal government out of their business," former Governor of Texas and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said earlier this week.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 19, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

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, with some adjustments in the age of COVID-19.

By Utility Dive staff

Opinion

The Texas electricity crisis and the energy transition

Although the political and national debate is turning into a proxy debate on energy resources, the most immediate concern is that the current failure threatens public health and safety, the authors write.

By Alex Gilbert and Morgan Bazilian • Feb. 19, 2021

Opinion

No state is an island — Transmission keeps the lights on

DOE and FERC could work together with states on inter-regional transmission plans, ultimately leading to a Macro Grid to share power across the country, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid's Rob Gramlich writes.

By Rob Gramlich • Feb. 18, 2021

FERC, NERC to investigate mass outages across ERCOT, SPP, MISO

Increased demand from extreme cold weather, limited gas supplies and frozen equipment at thermal plants were the primary causes of rolling blackouts triggered largely across Texas, according to officials.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 16, 2021

FERC reliance on ratepayers to fund utility cybersecurity insufficient to meet rising threat, analysts say

A proposal to provide incentives for security investments is a good start, but is limited by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's own ratemaking authority, analysts said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 16, 2021

Glick sees consensus on FERC considering climate, environmental justice in siting gas infrastructure

The chairman said he was "heartened" by Commissioner Neil Chatterjee's previous comments, indicating that he was open to reassessing how the commission approves pipelines and other gas infrastructure.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 12, 2021

California IOUs plan to spend $11B on wildfire prevention in 2021 and 2022 after record-breaking fire season

The utilities are also aiming to reduce the impact of wildfire-related safety shut-offs on their customers. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 09, 2021

Opinion

Collaboration, not confrontation: Setting the stage for success between FERC and the states

Concrete, achievable wins are within grasp, but only if FERC learns the lessons of the past, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.

'This is just the beginning': Southwest Power Pool begins operating Western imbalance market

The five-minute balancing market is expected to help utilities integrate more renewable resources, but there are some concerns about the creation of a transmission seam in Colorado.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 02, 2021

Xcel cuts carbon emissions 50% by 2021, eyes Colorado transmission, coal plants to reach 2030 goal

The utility hinted that its Colorado IRP would include heavy investments in transmission and renewables, as well as action on its remaining coal plants in the state, and likely looking similar to its plans in Minnesota.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 29, 2021

Deep Dive

'No compelling reason not to': Former FERC chairs, commissioners call for federal transmission overhaul

Nine former commissioners and chairs agree that now is the time for federal regulators to tackle interregional grid planning, following the release of a report.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 28, 2021

Deep Dive

Want a more distributed and lower cost power system? Try this new planning tool

Vibrant Clean Energy offers system modeling to match today's granularity and breaks the barrier between bulk system and distribution system planning.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2021

New York approves $854M transmission line, outlines path to reach storage, renewables goals

To support a 100% emissions-free grid by 2040, a report says New York may need more than 9,000 MW of offshore wind, 30,000 MW of land-based renewables and 15,000 MW of storage.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 25, 2021

PJM, utilities 'messing with' state sovereignty is 'biggest threat' to climate goals: Maryland commissioner

State lawmakers say that while leaving the capacity market appears less likely with the new administration, his comments reflect a broader power struggle between the state and its grid operator.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 22, 2021

FERC rejects NYISO MOPR expansion, gas infrastructure orders, in Danly's last meeting as chair

"This meeting is not normal," an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a tweet.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 20, 2021

California approves PG&E, SDG&E, SCE microgrid tariffs with eye to upcoming fire season

As battery storage capacity is added in California, developers are preparing to meet the summer peak demand through new projects, including microgrids.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 19, 2021

Deep Dive

Hawaii finalizes utility regulation considered potential template for US power system transformation

Stakeholders agree the state's final performance-based regulation order includes opportunities and safeguards that can lead to a new regulatory paradigm.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 19, 2021

New York to build nation's largest offshore wind program to bolster green economy

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the state selected Equinor Wind US to develop two projects, which will combine for 2,490 MW, more than 20 miles off the coast of Long Island.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2021

Duke, Southern file SEEM proposal with FERC as North Carolina regulators mull authority

Duke Energy argued state regulators do not need to approve its proposal to form a centralized energy exchange market before filing with federal regulators.

By Catherine Morehouse • UPDATED: Feb. 16, 2021 at 11:10 a.m.

Deep Dive

2021 Outlook: 10 power sector trends to watch

A new administration under a new party is one of many signs that 2021 will look different for policymakers, regulators, utilities and other stakeholders, but the continuation of some older trends is expected as well.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 13, 2021

New transmission approaches can cut billions in decarbonization costs: MIT, clean energy coalition

Interstate coordination and transmission expansion can reduce the system cost of electricity in a 100%-renewable U.S. power system by 46% compared with a state-by-state approach, according to two MIT researchers.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 2021

Deep Dive

2021 Outlook: The DER boom continues, driving a 'reimagining' of the distribution system

The rise of distributed resources will require a renewed distribution system that gives utilities more visibility of what's going on at the customer level to cut costs and protect reliability. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 12, 2021

New Jersey greenlights $800M PSE&G smart meter rollout, work to continue on data access

The utility plans replace 2.3 million electric meters, creating a more modernized distribution system that will allow for real-time digital communications with customers.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 08, 2021

Top Utility Trends of 2020

Amid significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the power sector's transition to a cleaner, more distributed future continues.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 05, 2021