PG&E shifts wine country wildfire blame to third-party equipment

California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has been investigating whether fallen power lines owned by Pacific Gas & Electric could have sparked deadly wildfires last month.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2017

Head of Puerto Rico emergency management resigns amid Whitefish controversy

Whitefish Energy's now-cancelled contract is under more scrutiny, with the New York Times reporting it charged PREPA about $319 an hour for linemen work — "far above the norm."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2017

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

Rhode Island lays out strategy for grid modernization

Gov. Gina Raimondo has directed the Public Utilities Commission and other agencies to develop a more dynamic regulatory framework aimed at advancing cleaner, affordable and reliable energy.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2017

EIA: Power sector CO2 emissions to rise 2% next year despite past declines

The EIA's most recent Short Term Energy Outlook also predicts generation from non-hydro renewable energy sources will rise from 8% last year to 10% in 2018.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2017

Utility customer experience survey reveals lower cost-to-serve equals higher satisfaction

The survey — conducted by GTM Research and EnergySavvy — also found that utilities are changing how they evaluate customer satisfaction. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2017

Who needs a NOPR? 7 ways to make wholesale power markets more reliable

DOE wants to support coal and nuclear, but grid operators and experts say greater power system flexibility is what's needed.  

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 7, 2017

ISO New England predicts declining loads due to solar, efficiency

In its biennial Regional System Plan, the grid operator sees total electric energy use declining 0.6% annually and summer peak declining 0.1% annually through 2026 under normal weather conditions. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 7, 2017

Duke to invest $3B to strengthen South Carolina's grid system in 10-year plan

Nearly half of the total investment will be spent burying power lines, targeting 20% of its least reliable overhead lines for undergrounding.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2017

USDA to invest $2.5B for rural grid upgrades

The funding will support infrastructure improvements for rural areas in more than two dozen states.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 3, 2017

Customer-led, data-driven approach to outage communications key to a successful Digital Utility Transformation effort

With the sector at an inflection point, it is more important than ever for a utility to provide a meaningful and seamless communication experience with the modern day customer during a power outage.

By Jamison Roof, Ajay Jawahar and Lili Gao • Nov. 3, 2017

California ISO to increase reliability reviews of proposed plant shutdowns

The grid operator's board of directors also approved entering into a reliability must-run contract with the Metcalf Energy Center. The Calpine-owned facility may be offered a utility contract in 2018.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 3, 2017

Puerto Rico requests $10M in FEMA funds to pay Whitefish

The controversial contract to repair Puerto Rico's battered electrical grid is being cancelled, but island officials say they need funds to pay for work that has already been completed.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2017

West Virginia allows Mountain Valley Pipeline to move forward after water concerns addressed

The state's environment department lifted its suspension of the project's stormwater permit and waived its right to certify the federal clean water permits, drawing a strong rebuke from environmentalists.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2017

Budding marijuana sector brings big load growth, efficiency challenges for utilities

Many growers are most concerned about securing sufficient power for expanding operations, meaning grid upgrades can be necessary if efficiency and demand-side options are overlooked.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2017

Northeast pipeline controversy exposes gas markets as 'a recipe for chaos,' researchers say

Contention over Eversource and Avangrid's pipeline scheduling practices shows that natural gas markets are "at odds" with reality, according to EDF.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 1, 2017

SoCal Edison looks to decarbonize grid, transportation in new climate plan

The utility devised a framework that would help California meet its goal to slash emissions 40% from 1990 levels by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2017

SCANA CEO retires in wake of VC Summer nuclear abandonment

The parent company of South Carolina Electric & Gas announced Tuesday a slate of management changes at the utility. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2017

New York, FERC at odds over construction of gas plant pipeline

Federal regulators last week allowed Millennium Pipeline Co. to begin work on the Valley Lateral Project, despite not receiving signoff from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2017

New York Green Bank seeks $1B in private sector investment for clean energy projects

The bank also plans to start working with other states to help them establish similar funding entities.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2017

Utilities focus on plausibility, prevention in preparing for worst-case scenarios

From natural disasters to cyberattacks, utilities face many threats — the key, according to one Southern California Edison official, is to focus on the most likely events.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2017

FBI to probe Whitefish-Puerto Rico contract, WSJ reports

The Montana-based electric company has also hired a lobbyist to make the company's case on Capitol Hill that the contract was awarded fairly.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2017

PREPA to cancel Whitefish power restoration contract after widespread criticism

Controversy over the public utility's contracting process comes as critics in Puerto Rico and Washington push for far-reaching reforms, including potential privatization. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 30, 2017

Technology, markets and contracts — oh my! The keys to profiting from California's duck curve

California policymakers look to address renewables over-generation through smart investments in supply- and demand-side resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2017

FEMA will probe Whitefish-PREPA contract, citing 'significant concerns'

FEMA issued a statement Friday saying it was not involved in selecting Whitefish, but will work with PREPA's legal team to review the contracting process. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2017

'Darknet' and quantum communications could enhance grid cybersecurity, scientists tell Senate

The Department of Energy's national labs are working to develop a private grid communication system called "darknet" they say could automatically detect, isolate and defend against cyber intrusions.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 27, 2017