Split up? Increase oversight? Eliminate holding company? PG&E's future is now open for comment

California regulators are considering a range of options to improve PG&E's safety culture, including breaking apart its gas and electric service or tying its rate of return on equity to safety performance metrics.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

California regulators propose 2 GW new peak capacity to address reliability concerns

The state's Public Utilities Commission has launched a procurement track that could include renewables, storage, demand response and other resources, while limiting imports.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019

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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

Consumers failed to meet thousands of electric and gas line deadlines, prompting Michigan safety query

The utility "failed to satisfy its statutory obligation" to mark underground lines said the Public Service Commission, and now owes state regulators an explanation.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2019

California governor to propose 'liquidity fund' to address wildfire costs

Gavin Newsom, D, will reportedly ask lawmakers to create the fund, which would be supported by $10 billion in bonds issued by the state's Department of Water Resources and has the support of PG&E's creditors.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2019

Ohio Supreme Court rejects FirstEnergy's grid modernization charge

Critics alleged the charge, which totaled about $200 million a year, lacked proper oversight and was an illegal subsidy of the utility's ailing coal and nuclear plants.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019

NERC sees faster storm recovery times, greater cyber vulnerabilities in 2018 grid review

The annual report analyzing reliability of the North American electric grid concluded that firm load was served 99.92% of the time last year, while also warning that security must constantly improve.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019

PG&E reaches $1B wildfire settlement with 18 public entities

The settlement resolves claims related to wildfires in 2015, 2017 and 2018. It does not include individual and business claims.

By Robert Walton • June 19, 2019

Utilities are 'the new cyber battlefield,' as US ramps up pressure on Russia's electric grid

With utilities in the cross-hairs of malicious actors, experts say there are health, safety and economic risks for those who rely on the grid, particularly if escalation continues.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019

Southwest Power Pool to launch energy imbalance market as alternative to CAISO

The SPP market aims to reduce capacity and energy costs, provide price transparency for wholesale energy, and ensure efficient use of the transmission system.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019

California approved utility wildfire plans. The next step is to see if they're working

To reduce the impacts of preventive power shutoffs — a key part of the plans — two of the state's major utilities have recommended a "resiliency adder" to incentivize distributed generation and storage.

By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019

Tri-State assesses FERC rate regulation to avoid potential inconsistency of state oversight

Tri-State currently avoids FERC regulation because all of its members are small electric cooperatives, but it could change that by adding a member who is not — possibly a power marketer.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2019

NY utilities to face revenue hit for missed reliability, customer service targets

Four utilities, including New York State Electric & Gas and Central Hudson Gas & Electric, will face a total of more than $7 million in "negative revenue adjustments," regulators said.

By Robert Walton • June 14, 2019

The rise of EVs could overwhelm the grid, but PG&E has a better plan

Stakeholders can use PG&E’s framework to see where the value lies in meeting the power demand that will come with the big shift to transportation electrification.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 13, 2019

New Jersey charts path to 100% clean energy by 2050, with 2 GW of storage by 2030

The state issued a draft 2019 Energy Master Plan with seven strategies for eliminating all carbon emissions from its power sector, including accelerating the deployment of renewables and distributed resources.

By Robert Walton • June 12, 2019

NextEra loses bankruptcy court jurisdiction fight with PG&E over renewables contracts

A federal bankruptcy judge ruled FERC lacks jurisdiction over PG&E's power purchase contracts, and the company can move to have them dismissed.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2019

FERC infrastructure report reveals phantom 850 MW coal plant, renewables surpassing coal

It's the first time renewable energy capacity has surpassed coal, and over 40 GW more are anticipated to come online in the next three years.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2019

Michigan approves Consumers' IRP eliminating coal, reducing emissions 90% by 2040

Part of the utility's plan will add 5 GW of solar by 2030 through competitive bidding, including 1.2 GW from 2019 to 2021.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2019

California natural gas costs could spike as state decarbonizes: E3, UC Irvine

A new analysis predicts the state will see a dramatic decline in gas demand, potentially raising costs for remaining customers, with harder impacts on low-income customers.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2019

California fire season starts with PG&E power shut-off in 5 counties

The utility turned off power to approximately 20,500 customers in Butte and Yuba counties over the weekend, citing dangerous conditions.

By Robert Walton • June 10, 2019

Changing Hawaii's utility model may only drive high rates higher, State Energy Office finds

Spurred by NextEra's failed takeover of Hawaiian Electric, lawmakers ordered a study that found a change in ownership would likely increase rates, while a change in regulation could lower them.

By Robert Walton • June 7, 2019

Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes: How utilities are preparing for a summer of storms

Man-made electric grids are no match for natural disasters, so utilities are putting increasing focus on speeding recovery times.

By Robert Walton • June 6, 2019

Report: PG&E considers $11B fund to settle wildfire claims

The utility would direct about $400 million each year to the fund, under a proposal discussed with lawmakers and major shareholder representatives.

By Robert Walton • June 6, 2019

DTE takes on customer range anxiety with electric vehicle incentives, education plan

The "Charging Forward" program includes rebates and special charging rates, with the distributed demand expected to add efficiencies to DTE's system and put downward pressure on prices.

By Robert Walton • June 5, 2019

Chatterjee rejects criticism of violating FERC's neutrality with use of #FreedomGas

The FERC chairman tweeted last week using the "freedom gas" concept initially put forth by Energy Secretary Rick Perry, but dismissed concerns from environmental groups and others that such remarks politicize the agency.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 4, 2019

California ISO to launch reliability coordinator service in July, as NERC certifies operation

The decision clears the way for RC West to have reliability oversight for 87% of the U.S electricity load in the Western Interconnection.

By Robert Walton • June 4, 2019