Jon Wellinghoff: Utilities should not operate the distribution grid

The grid needs Independent Distribution System Operators, the former FERC chair told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 15, 2014

With utilities fearing outages, BNSF promises to step up Midwest coal deliveries

Xcel, Dairyland Power, other utilities report plants many not be able to meet winter demand peaks.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 14, 2014

NRG buys Goal Zero to sell portable solar-plus-storage

The biggest independent U.S. power producer will sell kilowatt solar power packs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 14, 2014

Report: U.S. to install over 180 MW of solar carports in 2014

For the fourth year in a row, annual installations of solar carports will exceed 100 MW.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 14, 2014

Report: Distributed generation, stagnant load growth creating major challenges for utilities

The industry is trending towards converting coal to natural gas over the next five years, a survey of utility executives found.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 14, 2014

LG&E/KU pull plans for new natural gas plant

Nine municipal customers pull 320 megawatts of contracts, changing LG&E/KU plans.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 13, 2014

SCANA's 1,117 MW addition to Summer Nuclear Station gets delayed another year

Co-owners SCE&G and Santee Cooper must re-plan to meet increased cost and cash-flow needs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 13, 2014

Is Puerto Rico the new poster child for the utility death spiral?

The island's main utility faces different challenges than mainland utilities but the death spiral is the same.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 13, 2014

California regulators to revamp utility distribution plans

With 15 GW of distributed energy resources are expected to come online by 2020, the state is beginning to examine how to best integrate these resources.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2014

Michigan muni may build state's biggest solar project

The Lansing Board of Water and Light is getting ready to close coal and turn to solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 12, 2014

Previously put up for sale, NextEra takes Maine's biggest power plant off the market

The 57-year-old plant was a lifeline for New England when gas supplies failed last winter.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 12, 2014

U.S. wind industry has over 14,000 MW under construction

14,000 megawatts are already in construction ahead of the tax credit deadline.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 12, 2014

Nuclear industry frustrated with EPA's emission reduction rules

The Clean Power Plan doesn’t give nuclear enough respect, according to the industry.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2014

Ohio utilities seek to reverse deregulation

FirstEnergy joins AEP in a push to save their coal plants.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2014

TVA to retire coal plant, choose new natural gas or renewables

Gas is lowest cost now but new transmission could make wind the wiser choice long term.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2014

NRG Energy loses money during mild spring

CEO David Crane said he does not recall "a first half of the year where we were so whipsawed by the weather."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 11, 2014

Has APS invented a rooftop solar business model for utilities?

Regulators must decide if Arizona Public Service's rooftop solar proposal is a breakthrough or a threat.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 11, 2014

OGE breaks even in Q2 as utility eyes $1.1B in emissions costs

The utility wants to clean up its coal and natural gas but it’s going to cost customers.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2014

SolarCity losing money but keeps growing fast

The company got more installs faster and cheaper than ever in Q2 2014 but is still spending faster than it is getting.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2014

Minnesota regulators turn away from value-of-solar concept

Community garden rates will be tied to fuel costs instead of solar’s calculated value.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2014

The worst-ranked utilities for clean energy

Utilities from the Southeast are deploying the least renewables and energy efficiency. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 8, 2014

NRG to close, convert or retrofit 4 Illinois coal plants

One plant will be shuttered, another will be switched to natural gas and two more will receive environmental retrofits.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 7, 2014

Michigan utilities, solar advocates find harmony on community solar

DTE Energy, Consumers Energy and advocates like community solar but net metering and incentives fights go on.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 6, 2014

U.S. utilities signed up for 3 GW of utility-scale solar in the last year

Utilities and developers who think past the ITC can lock in today’s low prices.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 6, 2014

2nd-biggest U.S. residential solar installer files for IPO, sources say

Vivint Solar is one of the biggest competitors for SolarCity -- and utilities. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 6, 2014