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

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

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

PG&E lines caused 2017 Cascade fire that killed 4, state officials say

The utility did not violate state regulations, CAL FIRE said, but California's insurance laws can hold it financially liable even if it did not break the law. 

By Gavin Bade • Updated Oct. 10, 2018

Are regulators hindering EV acceleration?

Utilities and regulators are starting to scale up charging infrastructure, but are finding it takes private vendor and utility "coopetition" to build the interoperable EV charging networks needed to satisfy drivers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 9, 2018

Federal regulators OK $6B CenterPoint-Vectren merger

Shares of CenterPoint initially fell when the deal was announced in April on concerns it was paying too much, but since then, have risen about 8.5%.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2018

Michigan, Enbridge agree to build $350M to $500M underground pipeline

The tunnel will replace the above-ground line that runs across the Straits of Mackinac and could take up to 10 years to complete.

By Kim Slowey • Oct. 8, 2018

Michigan regulators clear Consumers PURPA rates, green tariff programs

Solar advocates say the avoided cost rates, on hold since November, will bring more certainty for potential investors.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 8, 2018

Mountain Valley stalled, Atlantic Sunrise cleared for service in busy pipeline week

The diverging fortunes of the two Appalachian projects illustrate the struggle between environmental advocates and natural gas companies over the siting and construction of new pipelines.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 5, 2018

Trump administration tackles pipeline cybersecurity

The U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security this week co-chaired a meeting with the oil and gas industry to address how pipelines can be protected from cyberattacks.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2018

After Massachusetts explosions, Columbia Gas to pay for customers to switch heating systems

Experts say the deadly disaster presents an opportunity to modernize the heating systems in three towns.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 4, 2018