2018 was a whirlwind for the electric power sector, complete with policy upheavals, market disruption and a whole lot of political drama in Washington.
Our top stories of the year illustrate that, with a number focusing on the growing competitiveness of renewable energy and storage, the decline of coal-fired generation, and the many policy surprises that came out of the federal government this year.
Looking ahead to 2019, many of the year's events will likely be connected to the stories here, just as in 2018, when one of our most read pieces was on the 'incredible' prices in Xcel’s 2017 renewable energy solicitation.
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FERC nominee McNamee slams renewables, green groups in Feb. video
The nominee told Texas lawmakers that renewable energy "screws up the whole physics of the grid" and portrayed industry lawsuits with environmental groups as a "constant battle between liberty and tyranny." Read More »
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Storage will replace 3 California gas plants as PG&E nabs approval for world's largest batteries
Installation of more than 2,200 MWh of storage will be the first time a utility directly replaces multiple major fossil fuel generators with batteries. Read More »
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FERC order opens 'floodgates' for energy storage in wholesale markets
The commission directed grid operators to develop rules that would allow storage to participate in the wholesale energy, capacity and ancillary services markets and could put it on equal footing with other resources. Read More »
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How Trump's 'Soviet-style' coal directive would upend power markets
A federal order to keep coal and nuclear plants from retiring could reshape the government's relationship with the power sector, regulators and analysts say. Read More »
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'FERC did its job:' Former regulators, lawyers laud DOE NOPR rejection
Regulators didn't just kill a coal and nuclear bailout — they preserved FERC's critical policymaking independence. Read More »
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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. Read More »
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How FERC's 'unprecedented' PJM order could unravel capacity markets
The landmark June 29 order echoes longstanding arguments from the coal and gas sector, but observers say it could end up a boon for renewables and nuclear. Read More »
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How vulnerable is the grid to cyberattacks, really?
Experts say a recent DHS briefing that warned hackers could cause widespread blackouts may have overstated the threat. Read More »
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Ballot initiative flops mask strong election for clean energy
The failure of high-profile ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington came amid wins for renewable energy supporters in key gubernatorial races. Read More »
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Business Models: What utilities can learn from Amazon and Netflix about the future of ratemaking
Time- and location-based price signals can guide customer usage, but electricity subscriptions could give more control. Read More »
