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

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

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. 8, 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. 5, 2021

Want to know how to pick an energy market? Watch the Mountain West power providers

Xcel Colorado just joined California’s imbalance market, SPP will offer imbalance services, and researchers have proposed a Colorado-centric system. But what do power providers want?

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 4, 2021

FERC approves tariff for Southwest Power Pool's Western imbalance market

Regulators concluded the new market, which plans to launch in February, will "yield diverse benefits to the participating utilities and customers" in the regional interconnection.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2021

The search for the next net metering policy takes center stage in California

California’s utilities and solar advocates agree a forward-looking successor tariff must use the state’s nation-leading rooftop solar penetration to address its increasingly dynamic system needs with storage.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 23, 2020

FERC proposes incentives for voluntary cybersecurity investments, in race to secure nation's electric grid

Experts say offering incentives for utilities to invest in cybersecurity could help shore up the grid much faster than developing new mandatory standards.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2020

Rising renewables penetration is a threat to grid reliability in some regions, NERC concludes

Areas of Texas, California and the Midwest are most at risk as conventional generation continues to retire, according to the annual reliability assessment.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2020

APS's plan for closing coal plants could be a gamechanger, analysts say, but who will pay?

The company's current rate case includes $144.45 million for communities impacted by its proposed coal closures, the biggest-ever such U.S. utility commitment, but customers would pay over 80% of the plan.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 18, 2020

Trio of New England decisions could help or hurt renewables as ISO-NE, NEPOOL face off at FERC

 Some clean energy advocates say one of the decisions could make it more difficult to develop energy storage pojects in the region.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2020

Transmission, local resources, market improvements key to decarbonization: CAISO and NYISO chiefs

Adding new transmission in a timely manner will require a suite of policy improvements, says Jonathan Weisgall, vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 10, 2020

In this Congress or the next, experts see opportunity to boost electric investment and secure the grid

The tight balance of power in both the House and Senate means any action must be bipartisan. Questions about spending will need to be addressed.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2020

Regulator of the Year: Neil Chatterjee, FERC

It's hard to imagine an agency that has had more effect on the power sector this year than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and it's impossible to divorce that impact from its now-former chairman: Neil Chatterjee.

By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

The Utility Dive Awards for 2020

The winners exemplified leadership in a time of crisis by working toward economic means of transitioning the power sector.

By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020

'Very small silver lining' of COVID-19? An extra 2.5 years to reduce power sector emissions: report

BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook shows the gas sector will never fully recover from the economic downturn in 2020.  

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 8, 2020

Are utilities legally required to plan for climate change? 'The devil is in the details.'

Utilities could be on the hook for damages related to climate change, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 8, 2020

Enbridge clears final regulatory hurdle for $2.6B Minnesota pipeline project

The 340-mile-long Line 3 project cleared its final regulatory hurdle Monday when Minnesota regulators approved its construction stormwater permit.

By Jennifer Goodman • Dec. 2, 2020

NERC expands IT-focused cybersecurity program as hackers actively target grid operations tech

Previously focused on the IT-side of utility operations, the Cybersecurity Risk Information Sharing Program will now include two pilots scanning for threats to operational technologies.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2020

​From Maryland to California and beyond, rate design innovations are boosting the energy transition

Success with time-of-use rates can allow utilities to start integrating more variable and distributed generation, leading to more sophisticated time-varying rates that allow for the further expansion of such generation.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 25, 2020

ConEd faces $102M penalty, possible license revocation for Hurricane Isaias response

Some customers were without power for about a week following the storm, and an expedited investigation concluded utilities failed to follow regulator-ordered emergency response plans.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2020

NERC: Pandemic, regional fuel shortages threaten winter grid operations in California, New England

Grid operators must prepare to mitigate potential fuel shortages in the colder months while prioritizing worker safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2020

Why capital markets are continuing to finance utilities facing rising flood and other climate change impacts

In a sample of 18 utility disclosures on climate risks analyzed by Utility Dive, 13 stated flooding and heavy storms were a short-to-mid term threat.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2020

FERC proposes transmission rating reform, upholds PURPA, ISO-NE orders

Line ratings are considered a "tool stuck in limbo" by transmission experts that could help renewables waiting in long interconnection queues connect to the grid, while improving the overall efficiency of transmission lines.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 20, 2020