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

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

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

Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today

The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018

California requires utilities to address pipeline methane leaks

The state now requires utilities to prioritize pipeline repairs that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, in contrast with Trump's EPA which is looking to ease oil and gas methane restrictions.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

In a first, PG&E cuts power to 60,000 to prevent wildfires during wind storm

Planned outages during dry, windy conditions are the "last resort" in a wildfire prevention plan rolled out by the utility last year. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 15, 2018

California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out

The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach

Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

California decision means higher costs for community choice programs

Community choice advocates say a Thursday decision by state regulators will shift hundreds of millions in costs and undercut the business case for leaving an investor-owned utility's supply.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 12, 2018

Largest wind project in hemisphere approved for New Mexico, but transmission tie in limbo

Regulators approved a 2.2 GW wind farm but last month turned back an application for a transmission line that is supposed to deliver the clean energy to California markets. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 12, 2018

Northwest utilities return to normal gas service after Enbridge pipeline rupture

The incident in British Columbia reduced natural gas supply to generators operated by Puget Sound Energy and Avista, as well as residential and commercial customers. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Oct. 12, 2018

Gulf Power: 'Unprecedented' storm may require system rebuild

The hurricane is estimated to be the strongest to hit the U.S. in 50 years and Southern Company is reducing output at two units of its Alabama nuclear plant as a "precautionary measure" as the storm continues northeast. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Oct. 11, 2018

After another overpressurization, Massachusetts regulators call halt to work on gas system

National Grid was forced to shut off gas service to 300 customers after a worker overpressurized the system, considered the cause of a deadly series of explosions with Columbia Gas in September.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 10, 2018

Gulf coast utilities brace for Michael, strongest storm in Florida panhandle history

The storm will be a test for Duke Energy, whose outage management system failed last year during Hurricane Irma.

By Catherine Morehouse • Updated Oct. 10, 2018