PG&E shares hit multiyear low as deadly Camp Fire rages

While the cause has not been determined, the utility reported that a line outage coincided with the most destructive blaze in California history, which has killed at least 29 people and burned 6,700 buildings.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 12, 2018

Clean energy ballot initiatives fare better at local than state level

Voters in Portland, Oregon and Worthington, Ohio approved measures that fund clean energy programs and explore electric aggregation alternatives.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2018

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

Atlantic Coast Pipeline costs reach $7B

Duke Energy says permitting delays and a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission stop-work order drove estimated project costs $500 million higher.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 7, 2018

Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership

The Texas regulatory docket will determine which companies get to own battery storage and other non-traditional grid technologies in the state. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2018

Tesla community storage pilot launches 3 months early in Australia

The project utilizes a 105 KW / 420 KWh Tesla Powerpack battery system and will store solar energy during the day, providing power during peak demand times.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018

PJM CEO: Powering a resilient grid through competitive markets

Federal action to protect specific power plants is not only unnecessary, PJM CEO Andy Ott writes, it would raise consumer costs and discourage investment in newer, more efficient technologies.

By Andrew L. Ott • Nov. 6, 2018

ISO New England unveils new initiatives to enhance winter reliability

New England has been looking for market-based solutions to winter difficulties, as its reliance on natural gas has at times put the grid operator in a tight spot.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018

PG&E defends planned outages as 'last resort' tool to prevent wildfires

The utility has incurred more than $2 billion in costs related to wildfires this year and faces billions more in potential liability, putting a premium on efforts to avert such disasters.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2018

Emerging best practices for utility grid hardening

The impacts of extreme weather on utility infrastructure are forcing utilities and regulators to take a more proactive approach to storm preparation, risk mitigation and budgeting than they have been accustomed to.

By Jeremy Clark • Nov. 5, 2018

Xcel, Boulder agree on separation details in march towards municipal utility

Officials say they are making progress on forming a municipal utility, moving toward an expected November 2020 up-or-down decision by Boulder voters.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2018

Dominion will sell its Blue Racer JV for $1.5B

The utility made the announcement during its third quarter earnings call, also updating investors on rising cost estimates for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and its Supply Header project.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2018

PSEG's advanced metering plan would replace 2.2M meters by 2024

New Jersey regulators, which placed a moratorium on smart meter development last year, will need to approve PSEG's $800 million plan to replace all meters in its territory.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2018

SoCal Edison says its equipment 'may have led' to deadly 2017 Thomas fire

The utility has informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it believes its equipment was "associated" with one of the massive fire's possible ignition points.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2018

Nevada's Question 3 pits retail choice against uncertainty in battle of billionaires

Voters could pass a constitutional amendment that restructures the state's regulated utility, opens a competitive electricity market and subjects customers and lawmakers to hard questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 1, 2018

ICF: Natural gas infrastructure resilient to storms, but improvements can be made

In a report prepared for Southern California Gas, global consulting firm ICF looked at the resiliency of the natural gas sector and concluded it generally holds up well in natural disasters.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

Western Regionalization Plan B: Utilities take an interim step to expand the grid

California lawmakers rejected the CAISO expansion so western participants are instead looking to evolve the energy imbalance market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2018

California regulators moving quickly to review utility fire mitigation plans

The California Public Utilities Commission opened a proceeding to review utility fire mitigation measures, including new requirements set by recent legislation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2018

San Diego chooses community aggregation path to 100% renewables

The city's mayor announced the start of process to form a community choice aggregation model as San Diego moves toward its goal of 100% renewables by 2035.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2018

#UtilityDiveLive Twitter chat calls out utilities advancing DER

We partnered with the Smart Electric Power Alliance to talk about the opportunities and pitfalls of getting to the grid of the future.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2018

Utilities worry FCC plan to open wireless spectrum could compromise communications

Making 6 GHz bandwidth available to unlicensed users could interfere with communications between utilities and their customers during emergencies, sector leaders fear. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 24, 2018

Oracle Utilities boasts industry-leading 20 TWh of savings for consumers

The company says its products have led to seven times the energy savings of the second ranking home energy savings company, Tendril, which had saved consumers 2.7 TWh by May.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 22, 2018

Alternative retail electric suppliers: A surge in consumer protection standards in Illinois

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is applying new and stronger consumer protection rules, stakeholder engagement and consumer education tools to evaluate the deregulated electric supply market.

By Sadzi Martha Oliva, Gerardo J. Delgado & Janel Haretoun • Oct. 19, 2018

PJM launches independent investigation into GreenHat default

After declaring the financial transmission rights trader in default last June, the grid operator is now trying to manage tens of millions in losses.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2018

Portland General Electric to develop 'smart grids' in 3 Oregon towns

The trio of smart grids will serve 20,000 customers, allowing them to respond to demand management signals and maximize renewable energy consumption.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018

Massachusetts regulators order Columbia Gas to halt all non-essential work

The moratorium follows a deadly series of explosions in September the Columbia Gas system in northern Massachusetts.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018