Texas PUC to hear Lubbock bid to join ERCOT; large manufacturers wary

Lubbock Power & Light says leaving the Southwest Power Pool for the Texas grid could save hundreds of millions needed to build new generation. But some customers are concerned about exit fees and other costs.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 9, 2018

Coal takes the lead in organized markets after cold snap, but dominance won't last long

Some coal plants have benefited from the cold weather as gas prices rise, but experts tell Utility Dive that doesn't change the underlying market dynamics. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 9, 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

Texas PUC chair raises concerns over ERCOT independence

Transmission upgrades in Mexico could allow power from California to flow into Texas, DeAnn Walker warned, placing ERCOT under federal oversight.

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 8, 2018

Virginia Sen. Kaine asks FERC to reconsider Mountain Valley, Atlantic Coast pipelines

The Democratic senator wants FERC to reconsider the controversial pipeline projects now that it has a full contingency of regulators. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 8, 2018

PNM pushes regulators to reconsider rate case decision in new filing

State regulators approved higher rates for the state's largest electric utility in December — but balked at $150 million proposed for upgrades at the Four Corners coal plant. 

By Robert Walton • Jan. 5, 2018

Pilgrim nuke goes offline as Northeast buffeted by winter storm

New England grid operators say local reliability was never threatened, but fuel supplies for oil plants continue to be a concern. 

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • Jan. 5, 2018

FERC approves $3.2B TransCanada pipeline projects

Federal regulators signed off on the Mountaineer XPress and Gulf XPress projects last month. TransCanada also said its Leach XPress pipeline became operational Jan. 1.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2018

Nevada regulators approve order to lower rates for NV Energy

State utility regulators approved an order that would lower customer rates by roughly 2% and seems to usher in a new era of regulation in the state.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2018

California grid operator 'reluctantly' announces it will become its own reliability coordinator

California ISO said it made the decision to manage reliability in-house because of the likely departure of the Mountain West Transmission Group from Peak Reliability, CAISO's current coordinator.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 3, 2018

Half of Puerto Rico still without power; utilities send 1,500 more workers to assist

Gov. Ricardo Rosselló initially aimed to restore 95% of the island's power by Dec. 15. The influx of new restoration workers brings the total to more than 5,500.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 3, 2018

Siemens invests in developer of local blockchain-based energy trading

LO3 Energy, developer of the Brooklyn Microgrid, has closed out its series A funding round with an unspecified commitment from Siemens.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 3, 2018

FERC aims to raise the bar for reporting cyber attacks with new NOPR

Cyber attacks on utility infrastructure have made the headlines, but have not showed up in NERC reports. FERC seeks to remedy that issue with the proposed rulemaking. 

By Peter Maloney • Jan. 2, 2018

After tax overhaul, utility regulators are pushing for lower customer rates

Multiple states have ordered utilities to examine any savings they see as a result of the lower corporate tax rate in effect this year, and to prepare to pass those savings back to customers.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 2, 2018

Florida utilities eye recovery of Hurricane Irma costs

Duke Energy Florida seeks to recover an estimated $381 million in costs related to Hurricane Irma and $132 million to replenish its storm reserve fund.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 2, 2018

ERCOT reveals violations of pricing, disclosure rules in new filing

The Texas grid operator informed state regulators that it failed to comply with certain pricing posting requirements, describing an "inadvertent disclosure" of certain generator interconnection information.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 22, 2017

FERC announces pipeline review, cyber, fast-start reforms in McIntyre's first open meeting

The new FERC head also said he does not "envision" asking for another extension on the Department of Energy's subsidy proposal for coal and nuclear plants. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 21, 2017

California adopts new fire safety regulations for utility operations in wake of deadly wildfires

Power equipment is being eyed as a possible cause of some of the state's sweeping wildfires, leading regulators to pass new rules for vegetation management and poles and wires. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2017

Will batteries and solar have a place in Puerto Rico's reimagined grid?

Reimagining the island's electric grid is an opportunity to modernize, but the need for poles and wires remains, say power sector experts. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2017

11-hour power outage at Atlanta airport grounds thousands of flights

Georgia Power says an underground fire damaged switching equipment that would normally trigger backup power supplies at the world's busiest airport. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 18, 2017

Sempra reaches Oncor settlement with stakeholders, includes ring-fence protections

Other commitments in the settlement include eliminating all debt currently at Energy Future Holdings Corp. and Energy Future Intermediate Holding Company LLC.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 15, 2017

Virginia deals setback to Atlantic Coast Pipeline with conditional water permit approval

Construction of the major gas pipeline will be contingent on several additional studies to be reviewed by state environmental regulators, the Virginia Water Control Board decided on Tuesday. 

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 13, 2017

FERC needs to review capacity market performance, GAO recommends

A review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found the agency did not adequately reviewed the performance of capacity markets, recommending improved data collection and regular assessments.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2017

California feed-in tariff not compliant with PURPA, federal court rules

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California concluded two aspects of the state's “Renewable Market-Adjusting Tariff” conflicted with PURPA and federal regulation. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2017

The new demand response and the future of the power sector

New reports show system operators and utilities are turning distributed energy resources into demand response and leveraging two-way communications for new levels of price responsiveness.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 11, 2017

PJM subsidiary looks to Western markets, with new RTO a possibility

The reliability coordinator for most of the Western Interconnection and an unregulated subsidiary of PJM Interconnect are exploring offering reliability services and markets in the West.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 8, 2017