Unnecessary complexity? Assessing New York and California's landmark DER proceedings

New York and California have spent years opening opportunities for distributed energy resources with minimal real impact. Could they have done it differently?

By Herman K. Trabish • April 4, 2018

Utilities take note: Hybrid renewables projects are coming

In 2017, combinations of cost-effective renewables plus storage went online, with more due this year. And 2019 looks like a hybrid boom year.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 3, 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

Energy efficiency, rooftop solar to trim New England power use, draft report says

The ISO New England findings align with a national trend of stagnant, even declining demand due to efficiency measures in particular.  

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 3, 2018

California ISO mulls double duty for transmission-connected storage assets

The grid operator will explore how electric storage resources providing cost-based services might also operate in wholesale markets.

By Robert Walton • April 3, 2018

New York is changing the face of energy innovation

Launched in August of 2017 by New York State to help implement the State’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV),  REV Connect brings solution providers and New York’s six investor-owned utilities together to accelerate innovation.

April 3, 2018

Market-based IRPs: A new paradigm for grid planning?

Instead of forecasts, utilities like Hawaiian Electric and Xcel are beginning to use real-world prices in their integrated resource plans, allowing them to better compare renewables and DERs to traditional grid investments. 

By Gavin Bade • April 2, 2018

Dominion threatens to leave SCE&G deal if South Carolina lawmakers cut rates

State lawmakers appear close to reducing SCE&G customer bills, cutting the amount they would pay for the canceled V.C. Summer nuclear plant. 

By Robert Walton • March 29, 2018

Kentucky utilities push back on state-ordered rate reductions

The Kentucky Public Service Commission last week ordered Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to cut rates in response to the lower corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Massachusetts ditches Northern Pass, looks to CMP for clean energy goals

The state will pivot instead to Central Maine Power's New England Clean Energy Connect that will add 1,200 MW of transmission capacity to help meet its renewables goals. 

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

DOE terminates partnership with Clean Line Energy Partners

The $2 billion project aims to deliver 3.5 GW of low-cost wind power to Tennessee and the southeastern United States.

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018

Smart transmission: How FERC can spur modernization of the bulk power system

Transmission technology vendors say their products could save electricity consumers billions — if utilities were incentivized to invest.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2018

Efficiency, DERs saving $2.6B in avoided transmission costs, CAISO says

The grid operator last week approved a new transmission plan that modified or canceled several projects. 

By Robert Walton • March 26, 2018

PG&E rolls out plan to tackle wildfire threats

The plan includes a network of utility-owned and operated weather stations across the company's service territory as well as hardening efforts that include developing community microgrids.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018

Energy groups see $1.3 trillion omnibus as repudiation of Trump priorities

The budget bill, approved by the House and Senate on Thursday, would boost clean energy funding at DOE and increase appropriations for co-ops to expand rural broadband service.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018

On the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system

Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018

Duke issues climate report, charts path to reduce coal use by 2030

While the report says a zero-coal scenario is possible, the utility currently plans to trim coal use to 16% by 2030 by heavily investing in natural gas.

By Robert Walton • March 22, 2018

Hackers target Puerto Rico utility

News of a cyberattack on PREPA comes a week after federal authorities issued an alert warning Russian hackers have engaged in a long-term campaign to infiltrate and surveil critical U.S. infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2018

California's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC

California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018

Maryland approves permit for Columbia Gas pipeline extension

The Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project is a short new pipeline designed to ship natural gas to West Virginia. 

By Robert Walton • March 19, 2018

NERC names WECC head Robb as new CEO

Robb's appointment comes after the high-profile resignation of NERC's last CEO following an office sex scandal and family violence arrest. 

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

Munis to charge cryptocurrency miners higher power prices in New York

Cryptocurrency mining operations are using thousands of times more electricity than an average residential customer, potentially driving up rates for everyone.

By Robert Walton • March 16, 2018

Massachusetts governor seeks Clean Peak Standard with $1.4B bond bill

Under the proposal, electricity suppliers would need to increase the usage of clean energy during peak demand periods. Another bill sets a new storage target of 1,766 MW by 2025 and 5 GW of offshore wind by 2035.  

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018

FERC splits on climate review as it reissues Southeast Market Pipelines approval

A D.C. Circuit Court ruling had threatened to shut down the projects due to FERC's greenhouse gas accounting, but the Wednesday order ensures operations will continue.

By Gavin Bade • March 15, 2018

Arizona regulators move to place gas plant moratorium on utilities

The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a 9-month moratorium on new gas plants 150 MW or larger, directing utilities to examine renewable energy and storage instead.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2018

Mountain West Transmission Group moves closer to SPP membership

The Mountain West Transmission Group's entry into the regional transmission organization could mean higher costs for customers of Peak Reliability, a reliability coordinator. 

By Robert Walton • March 14, 2018