Arizona regulatory staff proposes 100% clean energy standard by 2050

Advocates say utilities could be pressed to move even faster as some power providers in the state have outlined more ambitious goals.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2020

UK-based DER company enters North American market as US sits 'on the cusp' of mass transition

As the costs of battery storage drop in North America, a technology company focused on virtual power plants crosses the Atlantic to launch two new projects.

By Emma Penrod • July 21, 2020

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

PREPA CEO sees bright future for embattled utility, but funding, grid mod challenges remain

PREPA plans to develop 1,800 MW of new renewable generation and signed a private sector partnership to manage its grid more efficiently.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2020

Duke, Southern plan path for Southeast Energy Imbalance Market

For utilities in the region, such a market could "improve how we can jointly operate growing solar resources on our systems," a Duke spokesperson said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 14, 2020

TVA offers over $500M in additional incentives to quell talk of Memphis utility departure

Despite warnings from TVA leadership about billions in costs, MLGW staff recommended a request for proposals to explore power alternatives to its current supplier.

By Emma Penrod • Updated Aug. 21, 2020

Colorado ALJ sides with United Power against Tri-State over exit charge methodology

Tri-State Generation and Transmission says the decision could mean more than $1 billion in unjust costs added to its remaining members’ electricity bills in Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming.

By Robert Walton • July 14, 2020

Virginia Supreme Court blocks Walmart bid to aggregate store load, shop for cheaper electricity

A retail energy provider says the decision reinforces the state's practice of putting Dominion Energy's interests ahead of customers.

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2020

Duke, AEP, FirstEnergy tell FERC future COVID-19 uncertainty presents 'significant risk'

Although utilities have not yet seen substantive threats to their capital, they insist to federal regulators that potential future hurdles will require "adequate and timely" cost recovery from states.

By Catherine Morehouse • July 10, 2020

DOE lists China, 5 other 'foreign adversaries' as it asks how to enforce Trump's grid security order

The U.S. Department of Energy is soliciting public comment on how to enforce an executive order banning installation of bulk power system components from "adversary" nations. Among the topics: How much will this cost?

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2020

As COVID-19 surges, federal regulators worry about energy sector supply chain

The U.S. electric grid has held up reliably during the pandemic. But if the economic shutdown stretches months — or longer — regulators are worried about potential supply chain and reliability issues.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2020

Natural gas pipeline developers aim to differentiate from Atlantic Coast and avoid its fate

The Constitution Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline have been abandoned within months of each other, and natural gas developers are working to establish differences between themselves and the unsuccessful projects.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 8, 2020

Enel ransomware attack highlights the value of a top-down security culture

A cybersecurity survey found more than half of respondents in the energy sector were impacted by ransomware in the past year. Enel Group was hit in June, but was able to quickly isolate and mitigate the attack.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2020

Momentum grows for piloting Netflix-like fixed subscription rates, but not everyone's on board

For customers who want predictable bills, pairing automated smart distribution technologies with flat rates can resolve the overuse challenge of traditional fixed bills.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2020

Duke, Dominion cancel $8B Atlantic Coast Pipeline

As the behind-schedule project is put to rest, Dominion announced the sale of its natural gas transmission and storage assets for nearly $10 billion to Berkshire Hathaway.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated July 7, 2020

'Simple' or a 'Band-Aid'? ISO-NE leans toward Eversource/National Grid $49M solution for Mystic plant replacement

New England's grid operator chose the lowest-cost proposal, but one developer says that doesn't make it the most effective or efficient.

By Robert Walton • Updated July 28, 2020

Hitachi completes acquisition of ABB power grid business, launches joint venture

The new entity will use Hitachi's artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities to leverage data from ABB's grid operations while exploring opportunities in mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers.

By Guy Burdick • July 2, 2020

Battery energy storage is getting cheaper, but how much deployment is too much?

As renewable penetrations rise, batteries are the answer to variability, but it is not clear when buying more storage stops increasing reliability.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2020

Should the US beef up cybersecurity rules for distributed resources? FERC solicits public input

Regulators want to better understand the threat posed by a "coordinated cyberattack on geographically distributed targets."

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2020

A COVID-19 hit to public power? For some, it's not all bad

Municipal utilities and other public power entities have unique challenges, and some advantages, when dealing with the financial impacts of the pandemic and recession.

By Matthew Bandyk • June 25, 2020

LF Energy announces open source substation project to better handle variable renewables, EVs

CoMPAS should enable grid operators to manage the transition to clean energy, handling fluctuations in supply from renewable resources and demand from electric vehicles, according to LF Energy and its partners on the project.

By Guy Burdick • June 24, 2020

FERC considers transmission incentives for voluntary cybersecurity investments

Experts say the existing standards create a baseline of security but a market-based approach could spur significant new investments including enhanced use of cloud-based computing systems.

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2020

Could the aspirations of a small Memphis utility signal the beginning of the end for TVA?

Stymied by years of high prices that seem likely to increase, communities across the six-state TVA region are weighing the possibility of leaving the federally-owned utility.

By Emma Penrod • June 22, 2020

Xcel to speed up $3B in clean energy spending in response to Minnesota prompt on COVID-19 recovery

The utility plans to aid the state's economic recovery through a variety of programs, including energy efficiency, renewables and storage, that would create an estimated 5,000 jobs.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 19, 2020

Clean energy groups to propose FERC rules for national transmission system saving $47B a year

The American Council on Renewable Energy and Americans for a Clean Energy Grid launched an initiative Wednesday that targets significant savings by moving the U.S. away from a regional electric system.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2020

Rising energy loads from fewer COVID-19 limits, warming weather spark utility readiness concerns

A mix of virus-related stay-at-home orders, economic restrictions, warmer weather and now the limited return of industry has complicated utility load forecasting and led to fears of increased blackouts.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2020