Has FERC's landmark transmission planning effort made transmission building harder?

An Obama-era rule to grow transmission for the power system’s transition to renewable resources has been called into question.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 17, 2018

New York regulators approve higher crypto mining rates for municipal utility

The Public Service Commission has ruled on cryptocurrency rates for the second time, as miners moved operations in the upstate region to take advantage of cheap hydropower.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2018

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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

Duke's Piedmont plans new $250M LNG storage facility

The company announced a new liquefied natural gas facility to serve its customers in times of high natural gas demand.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 16, 2018

Hydro One turmoil prompts new look at Avista merger by Washington regulators

Ontario's new premier has pushed out Hydro One's CEO and board, sowing uncertainty for Washington's Utilities and Transportation Commission on Hydro One's merger with the small investor-owned utility.

By Peter Maloney • July 16, 2018

Former FERC Chair Kelliher questions need for more New England pipelines

The NextEra Energy executive's comments run against the conventional wisdom among pipeline builders that the region is in dire need of more transport capacity.

By Gavin Bade • July 13, 2018

Kavanaugh pick threatens EPA policies, FERC authority, lawyers say

The Supreme Court nominee has a track record of curtailing federal regulations and has questioned the constitutionality of independent agencies like FERC.

By Gavin Bade • July 11, 2018

Ohio regulator defines grid mod success through customer-side service

PUCO Chair Asim Haque supports greater transparency and data-access to really add value to customer services.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 11, 2018

NYPA applies predictive monitoring strategy to transmission assets

The power authority uses the same software on its generation assets, and has saved up to $3 million in emergent maintenance costs, demonstrating another way utilities can leverage technology to generate savings.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2018

EVs could drive 38% rise in US electricity demand, DOE lab finds

Increasing demand could lead to sustained absolute growth of 80 terawatt-hours per year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2018

FERC allows Valley Lateral Pipeline to commence service

New York had sought to block the pipeline, and developers hope the decision means FERC is prepared to overrule the state on other, larger projects. 

By Gavin Bade • July 10, 2018

Heat wave cuts power to over 80K around Los Angeles

High power demand stressed utility distribution systems, causing widespread and recurring outages throughout the weekend. 

By Gavin Bade • July 9, 2018

California court clears PG&E of liability in 2015 fire

The Sacramento Superior court's opinion could provide a legal precedent regarding California utilities' liability for wildfires.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • July 9, 2018

Exploding transmission costs are the missing story in California's regionalization debate

A debate is raging in California about whether the risks of a new western RTO outweigh the benefits claimed by transmission proponents. The answer is a resounding no, Clean Coalition's Doug Karpa writes.

By Doug Karpa • July 5, 2018

Surging heat fuels power demand records in 3 US markets

PJM, NYISO and ERCOT hit July power demand records in the past week, but the real test for the Texas operator will come later in the summer, when demand is forecast to approach its reserve margin. 

By Gavin Bade • July 5, 2018

California to consider changing rules for utility wildfire liability

None of the changes would impact fire liability cases currently being dealt with, but changes to the rules could help utilities reduce liability payments in the future.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2018

Reliability coordinator shakeup continues as Midwest group expands boundaries

Effective Monday, 100 companies registered with the Southwest Power Pool Regional Entity shifted to the Midwest Reliability Organization. 

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2018

FERC rejects ISO-NE Mystic waiver, orders quick fuel security reforms

Regulators said ISO-NE's waiver request was too broad, but directed it to file a short-term cost recovery proposal for the natural gas plant, as well as broader market changes. 

By Gavin Bade • July 3, 2018

New Pennsylvania law allows PPL to press for decoupling of sales and revenues

The idea is to use new ratemaking schemes to break the link and encourage the development of energy efficiency and other grid-edge resources.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2018

North Carolina AG to challenge Duke rate decision as utility weighs appeal

North Carolina regulators largely rejected a rate increase proposed by Duke Energy, but allowed it to recover most of its coal ash management costs. Both of those decisions could come under fire.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2018

Powelson to leave FERC deadlocked on gas pipelines, grappling with resilience

Republican FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson said Thursday he will leave in mid-August, giving more weight to the two Democratic members' opposition of natural gas pipeline certifications.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2018

Avangrid's $2.5B Northeast resiliency program puts emphasis on trees

The program will consider grid edge resources like energy storage, microgrids and AMI. But the bulk of the plan is not so sexy — 80% of the company's outages are caused by trees.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2018

Dynamic Grid Systems will rebuild a small Maine utility from the ground up

Isle au Haut, Maine, has less than 150 electric subscribers but faces the same challenges as larger utilities when it comes to integrating stable, renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2018

California ISO's long road ahead to turn storage into a transmission asset

Responses to CAISO's "storage as a transmission asset" proposal show there is more work to be done, as developers and investor-owned utilities support opposing cost-recovery options.

By Peter Maloney • June 26, 2018

New grid transparency tools improve distributed generation siting

Two tools can help customers and project developers more quickly and cheaply identify grid locations for distribution generation projects, according to Mari Hernandez, regulatory program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

By Mari Hernandez • June 26, 2018

Utility bankruptcy concerns rise as bill comes due for 2017 California fires

Some 394 wildfires at the end of 2017 could cost California's IOUs tens of billions, but there are ways to mitigate the financial impact.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 25, 2018