13,000 without power following explosion at Madison Gas & Electric substation

The transmission company that owns and operates the equipment responsible for both fires says it identified a potential problem at the Blount Street substation during a routine inspection just days before the fire occurred.

By Max Witynski • Updated July 23, 2019

Berkeley sets historic law banning natural gas from new buildings

Berkeley is the first U.S. city to pass such a measure, designed to curb GHG emissions and prepare new buildings for electric infrastructure.

By Kristin Musulin • July 18, 2019

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

Tri-State, Delta-Montrose reach potential settlement on buyout costs

Earlier this month, Delta-Montrose Electric Association asked a Colorado district court for a temporary restraining order against Tri-State Generation and Transmission, as members looked at the cost to buy out of their contract.

By Robert Walton • July 17, 2019

Regulators unanimously approve Georgia Power plan, adding 80 MW storage

The plan also calls for shuttering four coal units and increasing renewables by 72%, but some environmentalists said the utility still relies too much natural gas and could do better on efficiency.

By Robert Walton • July 17, 2019

PG&E's grid inspections revealed almost 10K problems: Report

Of those problems, 1,000 posed safety risks severe enough to necessitate immediate attention.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2019

ConEd pinpoints cause of July 13 blackout

The utility concluded Monday the July 13 blackout was caused by a "flawed connection between some of the sensors and protective relays at the substation."

By Robert Walton • Updated July 30, 2019

Cause of weekend NYC outage still unknown; ConEd to investigate why grid failed to isolate probem

72,000 customers on the West Side of Manhattan lost power Saturday evening, on the anniversary of the much-larger 1977 outage.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2019

NV Energy will utilize power shutoffs to reduce wildfire risks

The strategy is similar to utilities' approach in California. While high winds are typically the main force behind a proactive power shutoff, NV Energy says "no single factor" will drive its decisions.

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2019

California Gov. Newsom to sign $21B wildfire liability bill today

Critics say the plan to help utilities pay wildfire damage liabilities has been rushed through the state legislature.

By Robert Walton • July 12, 2019

Democratic AGs press for PJM CEO focused on climate, states' rights

Maryland, Delaware and D.C.'s attorneys general want the grid operator to have a president who won't treat state clean energy preferences as "out-of-market distortions."

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 11, 2019

PG&E knew of wildfire risks for years, WSJ reports, citing company documents

Experts say the revelations in the Wall Street Journal's report could provide additional ammunition to those bringing claims against the bankrupt, embattled utility.

By Robert Walton • July 11, 2019

Severe weather, cyber, physical attacks: DOE targets better utility, pipeline preparedness

The department is seeking information on "consensus-based codes, specifications, standards, and other forms of guidance," for improving the resilience of electric systems.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2019

California Senate passes $21B wildfire fund legislation, as Newsom pushes for final vote Friday

Some customer advocates are concerned by the bill's accelerated passage, and say it weakens utility accountability.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2019

Solar + wind + storage developers 'gearing up' as hybrid projects edge to market

A "wave" of new projects is coming to use wind, solar and battery storage in ways that will stabilize grids, increase efficiencies and lower power costs.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 9, 2019

Delta-Montrose files restraining order against Tri-State, as others examine buy out costs

The order seeks to restrain Tri-State Generation and Transmission's attempts to place itself under federal regulation, which members see as an attempt by the utility to avoid state oversight.

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019

California tees up wildfire liability bill as utility, consumer groups diverge on solutions

AB 1054 would create a fund to help utilities pay for wildfire liability claims, if they're not responsible for sparking the blaze, but opponents say it strips away important protections.

By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019

Diversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability?

As more New England states roll out offshore wind mandates, bringing the technology to scale is a portfolio priority.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2019

Senate passes cybersecurity bill to decrease grid digitization, move toward manual control

Lawmakers suggest that moving toward "retro" technology on some strategic points could decrease vulnerabilities, inspired in part by a 2015 blackout in Ukraine.

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2019

Virginia regulators approve revised Dominion IRP, but warn about understated costs

Customer advocates called the State Corporation Commission's decision "unconscionable." The utility says warnings of higher bills tell "only part of the story."

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019

Transitioning US to 100% renewables by 2030 will cost $4.5 trillion: Wood Mackenzie

Including existing nuclear plants would reduce the price by almost $500 billion, while other savings are possible with a longer time frame to allow for technological advancements, the consulting firm said.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated July 1, 2019

Florida mandates 10-year storm protection plans for utilities, sparking cost concerns

A bill signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis could make it easier for utilities to underground power lines and pass those charges on to customers.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019

Massachusetts regulators approve state's largest clean energy procurement

The Department of Public Utilities approved long-term contracts for more than 9.5 million MWh of annual hydropower from Quebec.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019

CalFire: PG&E power lines sparked Tuesday blaze

The fire, now contained, burned more than 2,500 acres. Pacific Gas & Electric said is investigating what caused a power line to fall.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019

NERC CEO: Western RC transition is 'single largest risk of reliability in front of us'

Jim Robb said Wednesday that certifications will culminate in five separate reliability coordinators in the Western Interconnection around the start of 2020.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 27, 2019

PG&E bondholders propose $30B reorganization plan, new name: Report

Under the proposal, Pacific Gas & Electric could become "Golden State Power Light & Gas Co." and pay up to $18 billion in wildfire claims.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019