With storm hardening 'a larger focus,' DC approves PEPCO underground distribution lines

The $500 million project, which aims to boost resiliency and reduce outages from storm-damaged power lines, cleared its final hurdle last week, and construction is expected to begin this spring.

By Catherine Morehouse • March 12, 2019

Hungry for green power, tech giants choose between utilities, independent developers

Utilities increasingly supply 100% renewable energy to large customers, raising questions about why they don't purchase more wind and solar for their entire consumer base. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 12, 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

Michigan ALJ proposes solar compromise in DTE rate case

The administrative law judge recommended eliminating the fee requested by the utility for solar users while lowering the compensation rate for rooftop solar.

By Robert Walton • March 11, 2019

Brattle: Electrification could drive $600B in transmission spending by 2050

A report estimates the United States will need transmission investments of $30 billion to $90 billion by 2030, and significantly more in the decades which follow.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019

Judge scales back PG&E wildfire safety plan in new proposed order

PG&E would follow its wildfire mitigation plan under a new order from Judge William Alsup, but would not have to comply with an extensive Jan. 9 proposed order it estimated could cost $150 billion.

By Gavin Bade • March 7, 2019

Oregon OKs dual PGE approach to procure renewables for business customers

Portland General Electric's clean energy offerings are part of a wave of creative Power Purchase Agreement tariffs utilities are offering to corporate and municipal customers.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019

Efficiency leads 2019 energy job growth prospects

Energy efficiency employers project a 7.8% growth rate for jobs this year, more than double the increase last year, in what the latest U.S. Energy and Employment Report deemed the "toughest hiring climate."

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2019

ERCOT sees increased chance for emergency capacity with record demand forecast this summer

The grid operator's preliminary summer analysis of extreme scenarios indicates ERCOT may need to issue energy alerts, but does not expect to use rolling brownouts.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • March 6, 2019

Splitting apart PG&E could hurt California's carbon neutrality goals, Sierra Club says

Breaking Pacific Gas & Electric into separate gas and electric divisions could make for a safer utility, but might create a new company vested in keeping the state reliant on natural gas, the environmental group said.

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2019

AEP launches electric utility tech accelerator to identify 'compelling' startups

American Electric Power's initiative with innovation specialist L Marks will be a 10-week bootcamp-style energy summit focused on accelerating the development of grid solutions.

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2019

Pennsylvania removes barrier to third-party EV charging station ownership

State regulators approved tariff supplements for FirstEnergy utilities which confirm that electric vehicle charging at third-party owned charging stations will not be considered a resale of electricity.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2019

PG&E says its equipment probably sparked deadly Camp Fire last year

The company announced a $10.5 billion pre-tax charge Thursday related to third-party claims from the 2018 fire, and said its total potential wildfire liabilities could exceed more than $30 billion.

By Robert Walton • March 1, 2019

Edison takes $1.8B charge for California wildfires, despite no new liability determination

Utility officials say the number of claims that are being filed and the potential for litigation led them to conclude Southern California Edison faces "a potential material liability."

By Robert Walton • March 1, 2019

PG&E disputes allegations it deferred maintenance on transmission line tied to deadly Camp Fire

"We disagree with the overall premise of the Wall Street Journal article," the utility said in a statement responding to the publication's coverage.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2019

California's review of wildfire mitigation plans will be a sprint

The California Public Utilities Commission wants to approve utility wildfire mitigation plans in May — a short time frame for such a proceeding, according to the presiding judge.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2019

New York utilities, NYISO to collaborate on allowing storage in state's wholesale and retail markets

Following through on its approval of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 1.5 GW by 2025 target, the Public Service Commission laid out priorities for a working group on integration and market design for energy storage.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 26, 2019

DTE's wind-only option spurs Michigan regulators to approve revised green pricing program

The revisions address regulator concerns over cost and pricing transparency and will allow DTE Electric residential and small commercial customers to elect how much renewable energy they use.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 26, 2019

Twenty years later: What's the state of U.S. energy markets?

U.S. retail power markets opened twenty years ago. Here’s where they stand today.

Feb. 26, 2019

SEU 2019 survey: Uncertainty mounts in the clean energy transition

Utilities are still moving to a cleaner, more distributed power system, but our annual survey shows they are increasingly unsure about what types of regulation and market structures they want to foster the transition.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 26, 2019

Designing Liberty Utilities' New Hampshire residential storage program

A closer look at the decision to pair distributed energy storage with time-of-use rates.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 25, 2019

Missouri regulators open docket to tackle EV infrastructure

The move from the Public Service Commission comes after an appeals court ruled utilities can recover their investment for electric vehicle chargers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2019

Maine settlement could pave way for Canadian hydro in New England

The New England Clean Energy Connect transmission line faces a challenging road to approval, despite the support of Maine Gov. Janet Mills.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 22, 2019

DTE, Consumers push natural gas redundancy check in fire-driven Michigan energy review

A January fire at the Ray Natural Gas Compressor Station prompted Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to order a review of the supply, engineering and deliverability of natural gas, electricity and propane systems.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 21, 2019

Brattle study shows utilities could save billions through competition on transmission revamps

Only 2% of transmission infrastructure projects went through a competitive process, but higher savings could be achieved.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated March 1, 2019

De-energize and DERs: The tough options wildfires pose for California utilities

California IOUs’ wildfire mitigation plans will cost billions and take years, but distributed generation can give customers power during protective shutoffs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 20, 2019