PG&E reports second line fault in Camp Fire area

The report adds to the utility's involvement with the record blaze just days after California's head regulator assured investors the utility would not go bankrupt.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2018

NY simplifies interconnection standards to ensure 'robust' clean energy pipeline: PSC chair

"If you want people to do something, make it easy," Public Service Commission Chairman John Rhodes told Utility Dive.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 5 Stories from Utility Dive

Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources. 

By Utility Dive staff

NTSB faults NiSource for deadly Massachusetts gas explosions

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found "omissions in the engineering work package and construction documentation" for the Columbia Gas system work that led to overpressurization and deadly explosions.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2018

California PUC chair says state won't let PG&E go bankrupt

The utility withdrew its revolving credit lines this week as its equipment was linked to the deadly Camp Fire, a move that can presage a bankruptcy filing. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 16, 2018

PG&E debt drawdown raises concerns of potential bankruptcy due to fire costs

The utility withdrew all the cash from its revolving credit lines on Nov. 13, a move financial experts say could presage a bankruptcy filing or other serious financial problems for the utility.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 13, 2018

AEP to spend $2.7B on renewables, $24.9B on T&D in next 5 years

American Electric Power plans to use the majority of its five year budget on transmission and distribution operations to "enhance service for customers."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2018

Locational value of DER is essential to grid planning. So why hasn't anyone found it?

Policymakers want to identify the precise value of DER to their power systems, but the system may be changing too fast to make that possible right now.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2018

Report offers 10 options to preserve utility role amid clean energy transition

The collaboration among Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute, examines ideas such as revenue decoupling, performance-incentive mechanisms and multi-year rate plans.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

FirstEnergy reaches settlement to invest $500M in grid modernization

The settlement also returns $900 million to customers as a result of the lowered corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

Lazard: Renewables can challenge existing coal plants on price

The firm's latest findings underscore a number of recent utility moves to replace coal with wind, solar and gas.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 12, 2018

Northwestern Energy eyes lower costs as it joins CAISO Energy Imbalance Market

California's grid operator estimates the EIM has generated benefits in excess of $500 million for market participants since its launch.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

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

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