2020 Outlook: US renewable resources on steady course for increased deployment

"In 2020, there’s sort of a 'come on in, the water's warm' element of excitement and momentum" around renewable energy procurement, one analyst said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 16, 2020

2020 outlook: Natural gas faces regulatory, environmental scrutiny but still wants role in carbon-free grid

Aggressive natural gas investments in recent years may bring the sector to its tipping point. But some stakeholders say the fuel still has an important role to play in a decarbonized future.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

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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

'Most dangerous and capable' hacking group now targeting electric sector, Dragos report finds

There is an increasing threat of supply chain and third-party attacks, according to the cybersecurity firm. Experts say patching vulnerabilities will not be easy.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 10, 2020

Trump infrastructure proposal impacts 'virtually every' federal decision on environment: DOI Secretary

Coal, gas and wind groups praised the changes to a key project permitting policy, saying environmental reviews badly need streamlining, but NGOs fear the proposal omits critical considerations and creates ambiguity.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 10, 2020

Entergy, Duke, ConEd adding millions of smart meters, but overall deployment slowing

While some utilities are seeing significant deployments, fewer customers need the equipment as adoption rates increase and some state regulators have shown a reticence to authorize additional costs.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2020

4th Circuit nixes key permit for Dominion's Atlantic Coast Pipeline, citing environmental justice concerns

A three-judge panel vacated a necessary air quality permit for a new compressor station, concluding the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board failed to adequately consider impacts on nearby communities.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2020

More than 2 years after Hurricane Maria, earthquake shows Puerto Rico electric grid remains 'fragile'

Recent seismic activity led to widespread power outages and caused damage to a publicly-owned 990 MW diesel-burning power plant in the south of the island.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2020

Bipartisan bill aims to end Dominion's monopoly in Virginia

Dominion and other utilities oppose efforts to deregulate retail markets, saying it can increase costs, but similar bills are expected this year in Florida, Colorado and other states.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 8, 2020

PJM: Electric vehicles could boost load 1.5 GW by 2035

One industry group says the forecast is likely too modest, as the addition of a plug-in vehicle can nearly double a household's electric consumption and adoption is expected to rise rapidly.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2020

Utilities 'caught in the crosshairs' as US-Iran tensions rise; experts say domestic cyberattack likely

Iran wants to avoid a shooting war following the United States' assassination of a top military leader, making domestic cyberattacks "almost a foregone conclusion," according to one expert.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2020

DC regulators OK 2nd phase of PEPCO's grid mod, but NGOs doubt value for 100% renewables goal

Consumer advocates question whether investments like a new $143 million substation will help the city reach its renewables target and expressed concerns about a new alternative ratemaking framework.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 6, 2020

FERC's ROE conundrum: Finding the right number is harder than it looks

FERC's shift in return on equity methodology for transmission projects is counterintuitive — greater need, but lower authorized returns. This seems like a significant policy misalignment, writes former Commissioner Tony Clark.

By Tony Clark • Jan. 6, 2020

Making the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions

Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2020

Tri-State members develop alternative generation plans in their bid to exit the utility's service

United Power and La Plata Electric Association say they are "weighing all options" to change their energy procurement contracts with Tri-State in order to cut costs and provide customers with more clean energy.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 3, 2020

PG&E rate case compromise cuts $1.1B proposal to $575M for wildfire mitigation

The utility was able to reach a deal with ratepayer and safety advocates, ending with a proposal that shaves almost half a billion dollars off its original application.

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 2, 2020

Washington Gov. Inslee proposes to slash emissions, reach net-zero carbon by 2050

He also directed the Washington Department of Ecology to strengthen review of fossil fuel projects to ensure climate change impacts are taken into account.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 23, 2019

NERC: Grid operators must prepare for 330 GW of renewables by 2029

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation expects adequate capacity reserves will be available to meet increasing peak demand over the next 10 years, but warned of challenges to integrating more intermittent resources.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2019

PG&E CEO promises 'shorter, fewer' shut-offs continuing for the next 5 years

The utility's bankruptcy will not jeopardize California's clean energy goals or increase costs for customers, PG&E President and CEO Bill Johnson told lawmakers.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 20, 2019

Xcel, 3 other Colorado utilities choose California's imbalance market over Southwest Power Pool

A comparison of California's Western Energy Imbalance Market with a similar offering from SPP found the larger market offered greater savings, according to four utilities.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 18, 2019

Happy birthday and thank you, O2K (Order 2000)!

As FERC's Order 2000 turns 20, it’s remarkable a rulemaking that "encouraged" (but did not compel) formation of RTOs would prove so transformative for most large power markets across the country, writes former commissioner James Hoecker.

By James J. Hoecker • Dec. 17, 2019

Squirrels, cyberattacks, age and climate: Obama DOE official reviews top risks to US grid

While there is much attention on cyber threats and other high profile vulnerabilities, the more mundane, day-to-day risks are also very important, John MacWilliams, a former chief risk officer at DOE, said Wednesday.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 12, 2019

Northern California's wildfire season is effectively over. What's next for PG&E?

While PG&E did not cause another catastrophic wildfire in Northern California this year, it still has to deal with risky infrastructure, the likelihood of prolonged power shut-offs and the specter of municipalization.

By Kavya Balaraman • Dec. 11, 2019

PG&E reaches $13.5B settlement with wildfire victims, including Tubbs, Butte and Camp blazes

The settlement resolves claims related to several fires including the 2017 and 2018 wildfires that ravaged northern California and gives the utility a path to exit bankruptcy in summer 2020. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2019

Xcel's proposed TOU rates could mean big peak demand savings for DER owning customers

The utility filed an advice letter with Colorado regulators earlier this month to make permanent a residential energy time-of-use rate, following a successful pilot program that concluded in July.  

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2019

The Utility Dive Awards for 2019

The annual awards highlight the biggest trends in innovation in the electric utility sector: from penciling out electrification efforts to pioneering new revenue streams for distributed resources.

Dec. 9, 2019