Connecticut passes bill to support Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant

After a couple of failed attempts, Connecticut's House of Representatives passed a measure this week to provide a financial lifeline to Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 26, 2017

Uptown Funk: Where will NYC get its peak demand capacity?

Few new peak providers have come online for the city because short-term market rules don’t offer investors the certainty they need.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 26, 2017

Vistra close to purchasing Dynegy, WSJ reports

The Journal first reported in May that the two companies were in talks to combine, and the paper warns discussions could still fall apart before a deal is reached.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 26, 2017

Florida regulators approve Duke settlement, ending the Levy nuclear project

The settlement includes plans for utility-scale solar, electric vehicles and a battery storage program, while ensuring customers do not pay any more for a proposed nuclear project. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2017

DOE NOPR opponents: No basis for expanded FPA to justify coal, nuke cost recovery

Backers of the DOE proposal argue FERC has interpreted the Federal Power Act too narrowly, but a wide array of energy groups say market conditions fail to justify that claim.

By Krysti Shallenberger • Oct. 25, 2017

Massachusetts regulators to review allegations Eversource, Avangrid constrained pipelines

Connecticut regulators and the Massachusetts Attorney General are already reviewing findings that the two utilities tied up pipeline capacity, and FERC has been asked to investigate as well.   

By Robert Walton • Oct. 25, 2017

Another study pins coal retirements on cheap gas, stagnant load growth

The analysis, released by Resources for the Future, also concludes air regulations had a large impact on emissions but very little on plant profitability.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 25, 2017

The pro-NOPR playbook: Supporters broadly interpret FPA to justify DOE proposal

Key supporters argue FERC has interpreted its mandate for just and reasonable rates too narrowly — leaving customers "exposed to catastrophic risks." But the stakeholders differ in how they want any new rules implemented. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 24, 2017

Puerto Rico considers privatization for island's generation

Island officials have been in discussions with Tesla, Sonnen GmbH, Arensis Corp. and Sunnova Energy Corp., according to Bloomberg. A competitive bidding process will likely be used.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2017

DOE's cost recovery NOPR could raise consumer costs by $10B annually, new analysis finds

Energy Innovation says the extra costs would benefit less than a dozen generators, including Exelon and Dynegy. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2017

Florida Power & Light proposes new $888M gas unit

The proposed Unit 7 at the Dania Beach Clean Energy Center would be capable of generating 1,163 MW, and the utility says it's cheaper than developing a similar amount of solar energy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2017

Michigan UP customers could see $24M in refunds from Presque Isle coal plant dispute

The case stems from payments that were collected by Wisconsin Electric Corp. to keep the Presque Isle Power Plant running despite attempts to close it in 2013.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2017

DOE providing $12M to advance coal combustion technologies

The nine projects receiving funding aim to help coal-fired power plants run more cleanly, efficiently and reliably.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 23, 2017

Illinois regulators tighten rules for retail electricity marketers

The Illinois Commerce Commission aims to strengthen consumer protection requirements governing the sale and marketing of alternative retail electricity.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 23, 2017

SCANA customers are owed $1B over failed Summer nuke project, ratepayer advocate says

The South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff has asked the Public Service Commission to determine how customers will be reimbursed for up to $1 billion spent by SCE&G on the failed Summer nuclear expansion project.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 20, 2017

Winter reliability strong, RTOs tell FERC, undermining DOE NOPR justification

Secretary of Energy Rick Perry has repeatedly said the threat of outages justifies his agency's controversial cost recovery proposal, but market leaders told regulators they have the risks under control.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 20, 2017

Vestas, Windlab to launch world's first hybrid wind, solar and storage project in Australia

The 60.2 MW hybrid project in Queensland will feature 43.2 MW of wind turbines, 15 MW of solar panels and a 2 MW, 4 MWh lithium-ion battery.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 20, 2017

Texas' planned coal retirements could depress ERCOT reserve margin

There are 4,500 MW of generation capacity retirements planned in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2017

Moniz: Utilities should prepare for very low carbon future

Despite current moves to support coal generation, the former energy secretary tells Utility Dive "there's no going back on the fight against climate."

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 19, 2017

Former FERC heads: DOE NOPR would 'fundamentally distort' power markets

A bipartisan group of former FERC regulators filed comments on the DOE cost recovery proposal Thursday, warning that "investor confidence would evaporate and markets would tend to collapse" if it is finalized.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 18, 2017

Brattle: Despite NOPR, Trump energy policies unlikely to boost coal

The analysis notes Trump's policies will also benefit natural gas — coal's main generation competitor — allowing the decline of the coal sector to continue.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2017

Chatterjee sets pipelines, grid resilience as priorities for FERC chairmanship

The acting chairman laid out his plans for the federal regulatory body in a speech at the Energy Bar Association on Tuesday.

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 18, 2017

Sierra Club: DOE cost recovery rule could cost consumers billions in higher bills

IHS Markit earlier this month estimated the proposal could cost consumers nearly $4 billion annually, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry testified before a House subcommittee that costs were secondary to grid resilience. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2017

Federal court remands Mountain Valley Pipeline water quality permit to West Virginia agency

The court's decision underscores lingering questions over the Department of Environmental Protection's review process for the Mountain Valley Pipeline project.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2017

DOE offers $26M for carbon capture technology research

The agency is seeking projects that could significantly reduce cost and energy penalties associated with implementing carbon capture and enabling technologies for coal and gas-fired generation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 18, 2017