Electricity prices and customer debt are rising: 'There will be suffering,' warns consumer advocate

In Massachusetts alone, electric and gas customer accounts 90 days or more past due are now in excess of $500 million, according to the National Consumer Law Center.

By Robert Walton • March 3, 2022

Ohio ratepayer advocate asks FERC to end RTO return on equity 'adder' for AEP, Duke, FirstEnergy

The request last week comes amid a more pro-consumer orientation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an equity analyst says.

By Ethan Howland • March 3, 2022

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

Texas regulators direct utilities to file emergency operations plans

The new annual requirement, which begins in April, stems from widespread blackouts last year during winter storm Uri, but regulators also say they are "timely" given growing global threats.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2022

AEP to sell unregulated wind and solar assets to sharpen focus on transmission, regulated renewables

AEP plans to spend $38 billion over five years to foster a "major transformation," according to CEO Nick Akins.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 25, 2022

4 transmission technologies to watch

As Congress, DOE and FERC move to spur the development of new transmission, efforts are underway to improve existing transmission assets through various technologies.

By Gordon Feller • Feb. 23, 2022

Transmission, reliability and gas system decarbonization top of mind for state utility regulators in 2022

Energy Innovation analysts share their top takeaways from last week's NARUC policy summit, along with insights for unlocking access to low-cost renewables, bolstering system reliability, and cutting natural gas emissions.

By Michelle Solomon and Hadley Tallackson • Feb. 23, 2022

The most environmentally-friendly method for refurbishment of hot-dip galvanized structures

Utility owners continue to face increasing pressure to substantially upgrade transmission lines using existing infrastructure.

Feb. 22, 2022

FERC, state task force eye benefits of considering transmission project portfolios, ending 'silos'

The FERC-NARUC task force aims to break down barriers to transmission development.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2022

California lowers electric sector GHG target, directs procurement of more than 40 GW of clean energy resources

Load-serving entities will need to procure 25.5 GW of new renewables and 15 GW of storage and demand response resources by 2032 under Thursday's California Public Utilities Commission decision.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 14, 2022

How grid operators are leaving F-gases, fossils and inefficiency behind

For heavy emitting sectors, such as the electricity industry, pressure is intensifying to find solutions to slash emissions and lower its carbon footprint.  

Feb. 14, 2022

Texas gas generators fared better than wind during last week's winter storm: ERCOT

The Texas grid operator has made progress on weatherization and market reforms, but observers say last week's winter storm was not a real test of the electric grid.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 11, 2022

Utility capital spending remains strong, but inflation, federal policy uncertainty complicate outlook: EEI

Investor-owned electric utilities will make capital investments of about $140 billion annually from 2021-2023, officials from the Edison Electric Institute told Wall Street analysts.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2022

Biden administration promises 'a year of action' in drive to 100% clean energy for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority is preparing to sign contracts for 2 GW of renewables and 1 GW of energy storage.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2022

Tunneling robot speeds installation of underground utilities, aiding resilience efforts

Robotics company Petra said its technology allows it to bury utilities deep below the surface and in difficult terrain, expanding the reach of the utility grid and providing greater resilience against climate-related disasters.

By Mary Salmonsen • Feb. 3, 2022

California ISO sketches $30.5B draft transmission plan to meet state's clean energy goals

“There is a critical need for more proactive, long-term transmission planning and coordination,” California Independent System Operator President and CEO Elliot Mainzer said in a statement.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 3, 2022

SPP, MISO identify 7 cross-seam transmission projects that could unlock up to 53 GW of new generation

The "groundbreaking" study could be a model for transmission planning across the U.S., according to a Clean Grid Alliance consultant.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 3, 2022

A year after widespread blackouts, Texas grid prepares for looming winter freeze

The grid operator for most of Texas says it is "anticipating high demand for power" from Wednesday through Sunday and has taken "early preventative action" to ensure the grid remains stable.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 1, 2022

Breakthroughs in generation and system integration are driving the utility of the future, analysts say

The new technologies will reverse the supply-demand equation and bring competitive procurement and a transaction platform to merge the bulk power and distribution systems.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 31, 2022

Eversource digs out of 'major snowstorm' after 300k lose power

Crews from Connecticut and New Hampshire came to assist in the Massachusetts restoration, and now Eversource says less than 500 outages remain, as of Monday morning.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 31, 2022

FERC should loosen incumbent transmission owners' grip on planning, R Street panelists say

"Control over transmission is in a lot of ways control over the industry," Ari Peskoe, director of Harvard Law School’s Electricity Law Initiative, said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 28, 2022

DOE leverages new and existing authorities to spur transmission development key to energy transition

The transmission deployment program melds existing authority with the infrastructure bill to bolster project planning, permitting and financing, according to experts.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 27, 2022

Extremists have developed ‘credible, specific plans’ to attack the US power grid, DHS says in new warning

Domestic terrorists see the U.S. electric grid as a "particularly attractive target," according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security warning, raising fears of a physical attack on critical infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 26, 2022

2022 Utility Dive Outlook

Utility Dive examines priorities, expectations and trends for three key subjects — FERC, rate design and renewable energy — along with a broader roundup of some of the U.S. power sector trends to watch in the year ahead.

Jan. 24, 2022

New York regulators tap ConEdison to help interconnect up to 6 GW of offshore wind

The request to design an interconnection hub comes as the federal government announced a February auction of leasing areas in the New York Bight that could support up to 7 GW of offshore wind.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2022

Nearly a year after Winter Storm Uri's devastation, where are we on grid resilience?

More comprehensive assessments of the benefits of additional transmission between various U.S. regions could result in greater grid resilience and reliability, the authors write.

By Clint Vince and Barbara Tyran • Jan. 24, 2022