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

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

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

US House committee probes possible corruption at Puerto Rico's utility

The Natural Resources Committee is demanding answers from Puerto Rico's utility regarding a range of allegations, including mismanagement of power restoration efforts following Hurricane Maria.

By Robert Walton • March 13, 2018

Northern Pass dealt fresh setback as siting board delays rehearing decision

The New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee is unlikely to decide whether to restart its review of Northern Pass before May, meaning Massachusetts could choose a different project to meet clean energy goals.

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

New TVA rate plan includes lower energy prices, grid access charge

The federally-owned utility says its proposed rate structure will "better align wholesale rates with the underlying costs" to serve its 154 local power companies. 

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

From smart grid to neural grid: Well, how do I get there?

The interplay of smart infrastructure, end-user devices, and applications and services, is what takes the smart grid of today into the Neural Grid future, Navigant's Richelle Elberg writes.

By Richelle Elberg • March 9, 2018

Energy sector condemns Trump steel, aluminum tariffs

The duties on imported metal commodities will raise prices for power sector infrastructure projects, trade groups said, and could derail Trump's "energy dominance" agenda.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2018

Sempra nabs Texas regulatory approval to buy Oncor

After numerous rejections, Oncor finally has a suitor that satisfies the state Public Utility Commission. Sempra hopes to close the sale this year. 

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2018

Are utilities missing out on the opportunity to use old coal sites for solar?

Two coal-to-solar projects show there can be benefits from taking on the costs of coal site remediation and repurposing – but it is a site-by-site question.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2018