California proposes demand response, other measures to shore up summer grid reliability

The Public Utilities Commission is also proposing that the state's utilities collectively procure between 2,000 MW and 3,000 MW of new resources.

By Kavya Balaraman • Nov. 2, 2021

How to make commercial refrigeration a hot demand response resource

With the combination of technology advances and incentives from utilities, commercial refrigeration is uniquely positioned to take advantage of the elevated role of demand response.

Nov. 1, 2021

APS vows legal action after Arizona regulators deny cost recovery for $215.5M coal plant upgrades

Regulators approved the utility’s first rate decrease since 1996, while voting against full cost recovery for APS' investment in upgrades to a coal plant being closed earlier than initially planned.

By Scott Van Voorhis • Updated Nov. 3, 2021

Disaggregation resets expectations when energy efficiency falls short

It seems obvious that when a homeowner replaces an old appliance or fixture with a more efficient model, it is always a good thing. Surprisingly, it is not so clear-cut, the author writes.

By Bill Hughes • Oct. 26, 2021

10 cleantech startups to watch

The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator fall 2021 cohort has companies whose efforts range from wildfire prevention to transportation electrification. CEO Matt Petersen discusses challenges startups face in working with the public sector.

By Cailin Crowe • Oct. 25, 2021

California, 14 other states urge DOE to strengthen efficiency programs, rescind Trump-era rules

More than $2 trillion in consumer savings and 2.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions reductions could come by 2030 from DOE efficiency programs, say the California attorney general and others.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2021

Southern California Edison eyes building electrification filing later this year

The proposal would be similar to the utility's transportation electrification program, which is the largest in the United States.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2021

Rocky Mountain Power's distributed battery grid management system puts Utah 'years ahead' of California

The program, which currently only supports sonnen batteries, encourages existing Utah solar customers to add energy storage that provides greater grid management capabilities for the utility.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 14, 2021

These 7 efficiency policies could help Texas avoid $8B in new gas plants, ACEEE says

Efficiency and load management programs rolled out to 9 million Texas households could reduce winter peak demand by about 11,400 MW, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2021

Extending Dominion's Millstone nuclear plant a 'critical' part of path to zero carbon, Connecticut finds

Connecticut's new Integrated Resources Plan finds the state's decarbonization goals are achievable.  But it will require the expanded use of energy storage and demand management and continued reliance on nuclear energy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 11, 2021

Avista first utility to file Washington clean energy plan, with focus on demand response, energy efficiency

The utility intends to serve 80% of demand in Washington with renewable energy beginning in 2022, and then increase that by 5% every two years.

By Kavya Balaraman • Oct. 7, 2021

Final reconciliation bill likely to include energy efficiency funding, but some cuts possible: Rep. Welch

A Tuesday report on energy efficiency employment highlights the importance of Capitol Hill negotiations. The sector employs 2.1 million people, but that's 13.5% below pre-pandemic times.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2021

California utility energy savings goals now account for fuel-switching potential

State regulators want efficiency program administrators to "start developing infrastructure to roll out electrification programs now," said Mohit Chhabra, a senior scientist with NRDC's climate and clean energy program.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 29, 2021

Taking Charge: Equity must be ‘baked in’ to energy laws, tax policy, says ASE President Glover

"What you're seeing with utility companies over the last 12 months is really reflective of what ... a lot of corporate America is doing, particularly after George Floyd's murder," Glover said.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 23, 2021

Advancing the energy transition requires an honest discussion of costs, outages and land, analysts say

Customers will tolerate the power system transformation's problems and challenges if they understand stakeholders will be "careful about the transition," one analyst said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 20, 2021

Operations management – an oxymoron?

Learn how you can use GIS to add structure to your operational processes to help make chaotic events more manageable.

By Bill Meehan • Sept. 20, 2021

New Jersey turns to property assessed financing to boost commercial clean energy investments

Lawmakers and environmental advocates say the new law creates a pathway for commercial projects ranging from renewable energy development to energy efficiency upgrades.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 30, 2021

Marketing and customer experience benchmarking for utilities

What’s the correlation between spend and customer satisfaction for utilities? We contacted 39 utilities to find out.

By Saurabh Bansal, Partner, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe • Aug. 30, 2021

Narrow House budget vote tees up billions in efficiency investments, but advocates want more

The $3.5 trillion budget framework that House Democrats approved Tuesday sets the stage for a September vote on a bipartisan infrastructure package that clean energy advocates are watching closely.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 25, 2021

Electrifying 97% of the federal fleet by 2030 could save billions: report

More than $1 billion in savings would come over the lifetime of light-duty vehicles and buses if the federal government fleet switched to EVs, a new Atlas Public Policy report finds.

By Jason Plautz • Aug. 23, 2021

Energy Department grants Nikola $2M to study autonomous hydrogen refueling

Hydrogen may have better range than batteries, but electric infrastructure is already built in the U.S. — and it's everywhere.

By Jim Stinson • Aug. 18, 2021

DOE moves to reverse Trump rollback, subject billions of light bulbs to higher efficiency standard

The new rules would apply to bulbs used in about 2 billion sockets around the United States, and requirements may be coming for 3.4 billion more, the U.S. Department of Energy said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2021

California greenlights first-of-its-kind energy code to encourage electrified buildings

Regulators estimate the 2022 Energy Code will generate $1.5 billion in consumer benefits over the next three decades, as well as reduce 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

By Kavya Balaraman • Aug. 12, 2021

[Podcast] Ensuring Grid Resilience in a Time of Change

This 3-part podcast series provides you with expert insights into the questions and topics utilities need to address to properly harden their systems for a future full of change.

By Utility Dive's studioID • Aug. 9, 2021

Is small customer demand response dead in Texas?

Price-responsive demand benefits all customers, not just those that participate in these programs, by reducing wholesale market prices and the need for involuntary load curtailments, the author writes.

By Robert Borlick • Aug. 9, 2021