Last year's weather, wildfires heighten utilities' storm hardening efforts

Utilities are taking measures to address those physical threats, but the number of outages has been slowly creeping up, as has the number of people affected. 

By Peter Maloney • May 21, 2018

DTE, Consumers pledge 50% clean energy, heading off ballot initiative

The Michigan utilities expect to reach most of the 2030 goal through efficiency initiatives, but at least 25% of the result will come from renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • May 21, 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

Wind power poised for record year, despite initial tax law concerns

Clarity on tax policy and countdown to expiration of the production tax credit are combining to drive a significant increase in the U.S. wind power project pipeline.

By Peter Maloney • May 21, 2018

NextEra to buy Gulf Power, gas assets from Southern for $6.5B

NextEra has long wanted more regulated utility assets but failed to close two high-profile acquisitions in recent years. 

By Gavin Bade • May 21, 2018

Divided FERC restricts climate impacts in pipeline reviews

FERC will now only consider emissions associated with a specific proposed pipeline, rather than a broader approach to factor in a project's impact on production and consumption of natural gas.

By Gavin Bade • May 18, 2018

California regulators see signs of a new energy crisis — can they prevent it?

As the state's customer choice movement expands, energy sector stakeholders continue to struggle with what CPUC President Michael Picker calls "scar tissue" from the 2000-2001 energy crisis.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 18, 2018

Illinois can do without Vistra coal plants, greens claim

Shutting eight plants in Southern Illinois and replacing them with other options could save up to $14 billion, says a new report by Vibrant Clean Energy for NRDC and Sierra Club.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2018

FERC chair restarts PURPA review, pledging 'open mind'

Federal energy regulators also approved a new pipeline proposal and reviewed summer reliability conditions at their May open meeting.

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

EPA air chief praises House efforts to alter New Source Review

The agency is working on its own rulemaking process to change the power plant permitting program.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • May 17, 2018

APS: Controversial RFP does not violate Arizona gas moratorium

Reliability concerns about energy storage prompted Arizona Public Service to limit its role in a pending contract request, executives said. 

By Gavin Bade • May 17, 2018

Wyoming inaugurates center to test uses for captured CO2

Products being tested stem from the NRG-COSIA Carbon XPrize — a $20 million competition sponsored by NRG Energy and Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance.

By Peter Maloney • May 17, 2018

Federal court blocks Atlantic Coast Pipeline construction in at least some areas

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not properly guard against endangered species impacts when it signed off on the project. Dominion said it plans to move forward as scheduled.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018

New York proposes strict carbon emission limits for existing power plants

The rule is expected to allow New York to achieve one of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature energy pledges — to phase out coal entirely by 2020 while still maintaining reliable and affordable power.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018

Judge allows bankrupt FirstEnergy Solutions to exit power plant co-op

Other utility members of the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation say the loss of $58 million in annual First Energy Solution support payments could raise prices for consumers.

By Robert Walton • May 16, 2018

High values are blowing in offshore winds; policymakers may need more

In some locations, energy, capacity and REC prices could give offshore wind the edge over onshore wind, but policymakers need to see economic benefits.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 15, 2018

Competitive solar-plus-storage moves closer to reality

Incentives and economics result in more pairings of solar power and energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • May 14, 2018

'Stunning' APS RFP could violate Arizona gas moratorium, critics say

The request for 800 MW of peaking capacity limits renewables and energy storage to 100 MW, which clean energy advocates say could run afoul of a regulatory pause on gas investments.

By Gavin Bade • May 14, 2018

Entergy says it had no knowledge of paid support for New Orleans gas plant

The utility's internal investigation pins the blame on The Hawthorn Group, a public relations firm with a history of reportedly questionable involvement in comment processes.

By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018

NTE Energy announces plans for new 1 GW gas plant in South Carolina

The plant would serve about 1 million customers and developers boast that it "will feature some of the most efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies currently available."

By Robert Walton • May 11, 2018

Pruitt NAAQS memo part of broad strategy to weaken air regs, lawyers say

Pruitt's "four-pronged" strategy includes changes to science advisory boards and framing major regulatory shifts, like Thursday's memo, as discretionary policy decisions, a UCLA professor said. 

By Gavin Bade • May 11, 2018

GE to buy Alstom out of joint ventures for $3.1B

The three joint ventures, which focused on renewables, nuclear and the grid, were developed in 2015 when GE purchased Alstom's energy business.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

Power sector divides over FERC role in resilience docket comments

The coal and nuclear sectors want swift federal action on grid resilience, while others are keen to let regional grid operators handle the issue.

By Gavin Bade • May 10, 2018

Florida regulators approve nearly 1.7 GW in new gas plants

The Public Service Commission approved two plants — a 573 MW facility due to come online in 2021 and a 1.1 GW facility slated for 2022. Both will serve electric co-op customers.

By Robert Walton • May 10, 2018

Agility is the antidote to disruption: Strategies to unlock your utility's agile performance

Unlock your utility’s agility to evolve into a resilient company that thrives in the most uncertain business climates.

By Kate West • May 10, 2018

EnSync's solar+storage to allow energy sharing in Hawaii

By combining solar energy and storage to share power, the company says it can increase system efficiency and lower costs.

By Peter Maloney • May 10, 2018