PECO Energy agrees to $150K civil penalty, energy assistance payments, for improper 2018-19 disconnections

The issues stem from software updates at PECO Energy's customer call center. The utility has also agreed to contribute about $400,000 to a bill payment assistance fund.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 30, 2022

Starwood Energy, TS Conductor launch JV to triple power line capacity, avoid new transmission obstacles

The Gridline Finance joint venture would be paid via utility savings generated by their more efficient power lines, which the companies say lower costs and expand capacity.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 26, 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

Federal appeals court denies LS Power lawsuits seeking to expand competition in MISO

The court decisions on Friday come as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is weighing the role competition should play in transmission development.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 23, 2022

OPSI supports complaint against PJM that seeks tighter transmission project oversight

The PJM Interconnection’s failure to enter into designated entity agreements is hurting consumers and grid reliability, the Organization of PJM States said Friday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 22, 2022

Settling the creep correction debate

The impending release of new guidelines for the installation of overhead conductors will settle a lingering debate about if and when to correct for creep during the hanging of new transmission lines.

Aug. 22, 2022

Sharp views from Enel, WIRES, others on FERC’s transmission planning proposal shared at forum

Breaking the “uncertainty cycle,” competition in transmission construction and whether independent monitors should oversee transmission planning were key issues raised at a Thursday event held by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 19, 2022

Justice Department, FTC urge FERC to expand competition for building new transmission, deny utility exclusivity

The Edison Electric Institute disagreed, saying Wednesday that utilities should have first dibs on building transmission because competition doesn’t work in the sector.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 18, 2022

New ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas must address soaring energy costs, market observers say

Vegas, currently executive vice president of NiSource, will take over leadership of the Texas grid as efforts to ensure reliability are driving customer bills higher.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2022

A utility’s journey to a more digital customer experience

 Everyday life is becoming increasingly digital. That applies to utilities and their customers, too. 

By Nicole Pennington, Senior Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe and Amanda Aweh, Manager, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe • Aug. 15, 2022

New York regulators OK key National Grid and Invenergy transmission projects, reject NextEra solar farm

The transmission projects support New York’s clean energy goals, but NextEra Energy Resources’ 180-MW North Side solar farm was rejected over environmental concerns. 

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2022

MISO benefit-cost analysis of $10.3B transmission plan offers framework for national model: ACORE report

“When the benefits of proposed transmission lines are fully calculated, the advantages of new lines are made clear to regional planners,” Gregory Wetstone, ACORE president and CEO, said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2022

MISO transmission ROEs vacated by D.C. Circuit, sending FERC back to the drawing board

The court decision Tuesday was “a big win for consumers,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Richard Glick said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2022

Xcel Energy expects to build $1.2B in power line projects under MISO’s new $10.3B transmission plan

At $7.4 billion, transmission spending makes up the second-largest piece of Xcel’s 5-year capital expenditure plan.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 9, 2022

Ameren seeks FERC rate approval for N.M. transmission lines to ship power from 680-MW Clearway wind project

The power lines are designed to deliver wind energy to the Four Corners trading hub, which connects to major transmission lines across the Southwest.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 8, 2022

Electrifying fleet customers – How utilities can capitalize on the coming fleet electrification wave (before it’s too late)

Utilities have a critical role in the coming wave of commercial vehicle electrification. Fleet advisory services are necessary to determine infrastructure needs to successfully manage new charging demands.

Aug. 8, 2022

NextEra’s ‘game-changing’ Real Zero emissions goal spurs questions about hydrogen, demand-side management

NextEra, the world’s biggest IOU by market cap, wants a “real” reduction of all carbon emissions by FPL, its regulated subsidiary, with solar, batteries and green hydrogen, but it will go without much help from the demand side.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 3, 2022

Transmission planners underestimate economic value of new links to handle extreme grid conditions: LBNL study

There are potential regional and interregional transmission links that could help cut electricity costs but aren’t being fully valued by transmission planners, federal researchers said on Monday.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 2, 2022

MGM Resorts, others urge FERC to reject incentives for NV Energy’s $2.5B Greenlink transmission project

Public Citizen pointed to NV Energy parent company Berkshire Hathaway’s strong capitalization and liquidity, saying they allow it to “mitigate risk for Greenlink without need to force captive customers to pay incentive rates.”

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 2, 2022

Reserve margin may need to rise to 300% by 2040 as more renewables added to grid: ISO New England

A scenario where reliability criteria are met using only solar, wind and storage would challenge the transmission system and require “an outsized amount of land or offshore areas” for wind and solar farms, ISO-NE found.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

FERC, NERC urge North American Energy Standards Board to help boost gas-electric coordination

NAESB announced plans last year to support improved coordination between the natural gas and electricity markets, but that initiative has made little progress.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2022

FERC, Kentucky regulators call for consumer protections, competition in transmission development

“I'm a big believer that competition, whether it be in the generation sector or transmission sector … can be very helpful to consumers,” Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Richard Glick said Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • July 29, 2022

New York announces 2-GW offshore wind solicitation with a focus on supply chain infrastructure

The state, which already has the largest offshore wind portfolio in the nation, published a third solicitation that includes the first phase of its $500 million investment in wind ports and manufacturing.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 28, 2022

With Manchin’s support, Democrats unveil bill with $369B in energy, climate spending

The legislation invests in hydrogen, nuclear and renewable energy, fossil fuel and energy storage technologies, according to West Virginia Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2022

FERC OKs MISO plan to give certain transmission projects to incumbent utilities without competitive bidding

Four FERC commissioners warned that transmission planning processes may lack consumer safeguards, however.

By Ethan Howland • July 28, 2022

Western RTO could add up to $79.2 billion to regional economy, report finds

The report, commissioned by Advanced Energy Economy, found that every individual Western state, as well as the region as a whole, would see economic benefits from an RTO.

By Kavya Balaraman • July 27, 2022