San Francisco eyes purchase of PG&E grid assets to increase power independence

A report from the city's Public Utilities Commission concludes public ownership of the city's electric grid "has the potential for significant long-term benefits relative to investment costs and risks."

By Robert Walton • May 14, 2019

Smooth operator: PJM credits low Q1 congestion costs to mild weather, cheap fuel

Energy prices were "significantly lower" in the first quarter of 2019 than a year ago, according to analysis by the PJM Interconnection market monitor, making it more difficult for generators to recoup costs.

By Robert Walton • May 13, 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

How to protect California ratepayers, expand clean local energy and avoid bailing out PG&E

Divesting the utilities of their transmission assets to make them Distribution System Operators will benefit ratepayers and utilities.

By Craig Lewis • May 13, 2019

California electric customers could see rising bills due to wildfires, declining sales: CPUC

California electric rates are rising, in part because low usage is no longer offsetting rate impacts, according to a new report by the state's regulators.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2019

NERC to analyze first potential cyberattack on US grid

The nonprofit has no information suggesting malicious intent behind the loss of visibility to a utility control system that occurred in early March and impacted electrical system operations in California, Utah and Wyoming.

By HJ Mai • May 10, 2019

California regulators dig into safety qualifications of new PG&E board

Amidst ongoing investigation into PG&E safety culture, regulators called on the embattled utility to provide detail into the safety experience of its new board members, including a new CEO and 10 new directors.

By Robert Walton • May 9, 2019

South Carolina regulators slash Duke Energy Progress rate hikes, cut $333M coal ash recovery

The Public Service Commission adopted a similar motion reducing another Duke subsidiary's proposed rate hike by 54%, signaling the impact of stakeholders that rallied to oppose the increases.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 9, 2019

Texas grid operator braces for tight supply-demand balance this summer

ERCOT says it continues to see "above-normal growth" in electric demand on its system, largely due to new industrial load on the coast and the oil and gas industry in the west.

By Robert Walton • May 9, 2019

Time to open 'time-sensitive' transmission projects to Order 1000 competition

While competition is intended to encourage transmission developers to drive down consumer costs, shift risks to private investors and achieve greater efficiencies, New England consumers are not realizing those benefits.

By Jason Marshall • May 9, 2019

EPA questions federal permit application of 1.2 GW hydro transmission line

Central Maine's environmental permit application for a proposed 145-mile project from Quebec to Massachusetts prevents stakeholders from having a full understanding of the project due to allegedly incomplete information, EPA wrote.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 8, 2019

ConEd eases customer DER adoption while gaining data to improve grid planning

Customers installing solar panels or an electric vehicle charger can get a free device that avoids the cost of upgrading the home's circuit panel and provides the utility with valuable energy usage data.

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2019

Michigan regulators approve DTE $273M rate increase, EV pilot, net metering replacement

DTE Energy, which had requested a larger rate increase, will spend $13 million on a three-year electric vehicle and school bus charging pilot program that could support thousands of charging stations.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2019

PG&E faces SEC investigation into public disclosures of wildfire losses

In its quarterly filing, the company revealed the investigation and recorded more than $400 million in costs related to wildfire cleanup and recovery.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2019

NYISO: Decarbonization efforts could be slowed without new transmission

A report from the grid operator concludes the state's electric grid is "at the cusp of the next evolution," but decarbonization efforts could be stymied without new transfer capabilities between upstate renewables and downstate consumers.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2019

EPRI: Threat of EMP attacks on US transmission has been overstated

While regional service interruption is possible as a result of electromagnetic pulses from solar flares or other sources, the three-year study finds national grid failure is unlikely.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 1, 2019

CPUC directs PG&E to reduce risk of power shut-offs as it mostly OKs utility fire plans

The Public Utility Commission found the state's major utilities mostly compliant with state wildfire laws, but flagged seven areas for improvement for PG&E and three for SCE.

By Robert Walton • May 1, 2019

Retail energy suppliers, others reject New York utilities' proposed cybersecurity protocols

Cyberthreats are on the rise and while energy stakeholders in New York agree on the importance of enhanced security measures, they disagree over who should pay for it. 

By HJ Mai • May 1, 2019

Avista signs on to Western Energy Imbalance Market, projecting more renewables integration

The real-time wholesale energy market automatically provides the lowest-cost energy available to meet utility customer needs, and savings are growing along with the roster of market participants.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2019

California PUC proposes guidelines for 'last resort' de-energizations as wildfire season looms

Utilities may need to de-energize power lines during high winds, but the California Public Utilities Commission's proposal makes clear it can only do that "as a measure of last resort."

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2019

PG&E revises wildfire mitigation plan to remove hard inspection and improvement deadlines

The utility told regulators it wants to "revise certain targets" because it would likely miss some deadlines due to a range of factors, from the federal government shutdown to weather and access challenges.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2019

California adopts 2030 Preferred System Portfolio with 12 GW new wind, solar, storage, geothermal

Regulators voted unanimously on an "optimal 2030 portfolio" of supply- and demand-side resources to achieve climate goals, citing concerns about community choice aggregator planning.

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2019

Florida utilities reach storm cost settlement as New York regulators threaten fines

Settlements with Duke Energy Florida and Tampa Electric Co. would use tax savings to help the utilities cover the costs of Hurricane Irma in 2017.

By Robert Walton • April 25, 2019

Con Edison announces deal to end Westchester moratorium on gas hookups

The agreement for an extra 110,000 dekatherms of natural gas capacity would let the utility create new connections by November 2023 in a county near New York City, where demand for heating has grown with new construction.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • April 25, 2019

PG&E asks for higher ROE to fund wildfire safety upgrades

The utility says a higher return on equity is essential to attract investors, but its proposal would raise average residential electric rates by 7%.

By Robert Walton • April 23, 2019

FERC approves LNG terminals as anti-fossil protestors scale headquarters

Both sides say climate change is a 'crisis' — but have divergent strategies to address it.

By Gavin Bade • April 18, 2019