Distribution grid lessons learned in 2022

With the end of 2022 fast approaching, many of us in the utility industry are considering grid lessons learned over the past year.

Nov. 21, 2022

North American electric grid faces ‘unprecedented’ widespread risk this winter: NERC

Portions of the Southeast, Midwest, Texas, New England and other areas could see potential energy shortfalls in extreme weather, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 18, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

Inflation Reduction Act upends utility resource planning tenets: NARUC panelists

“These [IRA] incentives …. are transforming how we think about electricity procurement because these resources are going to be so cheap,” Evolved Energy Principal Jamil Farbes said.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 17, 2022

Cross-border power trade can help leaders at COP27 facilitate emissions reductions

Enhancing cross-border power trade can help achieve global greenhouse gas reduction goals by efficiently integrating low-cost renewable resources while improving electricity affordability and security.

By Jennifer Chen, Edmund Downie and Noah Kittner • Nov. 16, 2022

FERC, state regulators consider independent monitors as way to boost transmission oversight ‘gap’

A growing number of transmission projects – 63% of California grid investments – lack robust review, regulators said at a FERC-NARUC meeting in New Orleans.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 16, 2022

US can reach 100% clean power by 2035, DOE finds, but tough reliability and land use questions lie ahead

New aggressive planning is needed to identify the long-duration storage technologies and find the land to grow enough resources to reach the Biden administration’s net zero emissions goals, a DOE national lab reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 15, 2022

Gas utilities look to hydrogen, renewables integration while facing ‘existential threat’ of decarbonization

Alternative fuels like hydrogen and renewable natural gas can help local distribution companies to reduce emissions but come with higher costs, the ratings agency said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 15, 2022

Texas regulators weigh $460M ‘performance credit mechanism’ to ensure electric grid reliability

The performance credits would require “anyone who sells power to a household or business in ERCOT to guarantee that they are buying that power from a reliable source,” Chair Peter Lake said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2022

Moody’s adopts negative outlook for regulated utility sector, warns on gas prices, economy and cost recovery

“Utilities that operate in service territories with poor demographics or weak local economies are at higher risk," the ratings agency said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2022

Fossil fuel, renewable trade groups explore potential paths to energy bipartisanship in a divided Congress

Energy permitting reform, increasing access to rare earth minerals and domestic clean energy manufacturing are areas for compromise, said Scott Segal, a partner at the energy-focused law firm Bracewell.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2022

Government electricity price forecast ticks higher, as consumer advocate warns there is little relief in sight

“Underlying fuel prices for natural gas and coal remain high and could go higher next month,” said National Energy Assistance Directors Association Executive Director Mark Wolfe.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2022

NiSource to sell minority share of NIPSCO subsidiary to fund $15B 5-year growth plan, 2040 net-zero goal

Natural gas will continue to play a major role in the utility’s portfolio. Some 350 MW to 400 MW of gas-peaking capacity may be necessary to meet electricity demand, company officials said.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2022

Putin-focused and other hacks of charging stations drive new cybersecurity steps for an EV boom

A broad utility-to-charger attack surface will require smarter protection strategies and tools for cyber threats as transportation electrification and vehicle-to-grid integration expand, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 8, 2022

Inflation Reduction Act adds fuel to RTO reform imperative, generator interconnection backlog

The new law also puts transmission planning and permitting on center stage while increasing the need for on-demand generation.

By Tony Clark • Nov. 8, 2022

PNM sees diverging load impacts from crypto, supply chain as it awaits court action on Avangrid merger

Public Service Co. of New Mexico is seeing a slowdown in industrial demand growth this year, while throughput for Texas-New Mexico Power has gotten a boost from crypto mining.  

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2022

As FERC’s transmission proposal sparks clashes, potential solutions emerge from MISO, elsewhere

Federal transmission planning reforms must decide who builds and where, who benefits and pays, who balances state and national interests, and who enforces the rules, stakeholders said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 7, 2022

FERC interconnection reform proposal poses a barrier to Colorado joining an RTO: PUC Chair Blank

“I'm really concerned that this [proposal] would undermine our transition, and the effective working of our resource planning and acquisition process,” Colorado PUC Chair Eric Blank said.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 7, 2022

Powering data centers sustainably

Demand for data centers is soaring, prompting calls to cut carbon emissions.

Nov. 7, 2022

Texas moves ahead with expanded 80 MW distributed energy resource pilot designed to boost grid reliability

Initial discussions had considered a 10 MW limit on the pilot. “What it shows to me is that we're conservative in the way we think about how we ensure reliability,” said Commissioner Jimmy Glotfelty.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2022

FERC rejects Alliant-led coalition bid to cut ITC Midwest equity ratio, reduce transmission costs

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected a complaint backed by the Iowa Utilities Board that could have lowered ITC Midwest’s transmission rates in Iowa by $114 million.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 3, 2022

NextEra says FPL’s speedy Hurricane Ian recovery could cost customers $1.1B

The company also plans to acquire $1.1 billion in renewable natural gas assets. Similar investments are likely to grow under the Inflation Reduction Act, executives said Friday morning in a third-quarter earnings call.

By Emma Penrod • Oct. 31, 2022

Over AEP, Xcel objections, FERC OKs SPP transmission cost allocation process affecting wind-heavy areas

Commissioners James Danly and Mark Christie voted against the plan, citing a lack of broad state support.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 31, 2022

Electric utilities aren’t doing enough to address inequities in today’s power system, advocates say

How are companies, regulators, NGOs and others ensuring that the energy transition is equitable?

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2022

National Grid, WIRES panelists call for ‘grid-enhancing technologies’ to quickly boost transmission capacity

WIRES conference panelists also called for “rightsizing” transmission projects to meet future needs.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 28, 2022

Clean energy supply bottlenecks hit overburdened communities the hardest, utilities and advocates say

The Inflation Reduction Act and an equity focus should help reverse the trend, however.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Oct. 27, 2022