Shell buys charging company Greenlots as oil majors prep for rise of EVs

With the number of EVs on U.S. roads expected to reach 7 million by 2025, the deal could signal a wave of coming investment by large oil and gas companies to diversify, say electrification experts.​​

By Robert Walton • Feb. 1, 2019

Top 3 themes shaping U.S. power markets

How does declining demand for electricity affect the power markets?

Feb. 1, 2019

Low prices, not legislation, driving Xcel renewables push for now

Bills in Colorado, Texas, Minnesota and other states are not expected to significantly drive capital expenditures in the short term, but will be key to becoming 100% carbon free, analysts say.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 31, 2019

Bidgely AI platform targets better efficiency, load-shaping solutions for utilities

The company is partnering with EnergyHub and turning to artificial intelligence and machine learning to give utilities a better idea of what is happening inside homes.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2019

New report lists steps for Boston to become carbon neutral

The strategies will influence updates to the city's climate action plan this year to include electrification, energy retrofits and a downtown congestion fee.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 30, 2019

Shared EV network Envoy to expand nationwide

The company will soon have 100 sites and more than 1,800 vehicles at hotels, businesses and apartment buildings through a series of partnerships.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 30, 2019

Massachusetts approves 3-year efficiency plan with first fuel-switching incentives

Regulators approved the 2019‑2021 plan for the state's electric and gas distribution companies, which is expected to save customers $8 billion, along with cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2019

Blue state environmental wave grows as New Mexico governor signs clean energy order

The order directs state agencies to set a variety of standards for emissions, energy efficiency and infrastructure, targeting a 45% reduction in carbon emissions below 2005 levels by 2030.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 30, 2019

Vermont regulators advance first of 3 Green Mountain Power solar-plus-storage projects

The utility seeks to use these projects to lower regional system costs and forward capacity market costs in the ISO-New England region.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 29, 2019

Behavioral demand response gives Baltimore Gas and Electric a business reason to reduce peak usage

Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute provide insight on the results of the largest dynamic pricing program in the nation, as of 2017.

By Coley Girouard • Jan. 28, 2019

An emerging push for time-of-use rates sparks new debates about customer and grid impacts

Momentum is building behind time-of-use rates, but longstanding doubts about whether they are fair remain unresolved, threatening new efforts.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 28, 2019

Tendril grows its load monitoring operations to help shift peak demand

With its latest acquisition of nonintrusive load monitoring technology to process data from advanced metering infrastructure, the company wants to help utilities flatten their loads without help from their customers.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 24, 2019

Survey: 1 in 9 Americans would consider buying an EV

The YouGov survey found those interested in EVs are more likely to be aged 25-44, vote Democratic and consider climate change a serious issue.

By Jason Plautz • Jan. 22, 2019

VC funding for storage, smart grid and efficiency companies almost doubled last year: Mercom

Companies raised a combined $2.8 billion across the three areas in 2018, compared to $1.5 billion raised in 2017, driven by a steep rise in energy efficiency interest.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2019

Texas regulators direct higher plant payments amid capacity crunch concerns

Changes to the state's market rules will make prices respond more quickly during times of grid stress, boosting payments to resources that can provide emergency power. 

By Gavin Bade • Jan. 22, 2019

Pepco electrification plan anti-competitive, DC ratepayer advocate argues

The Office of the People's Counsel for the District of Columbia says the utility's proposal would be "detrimental to the competitive [electric vehicle] market" while also arguing the utility failed to justify why ratepayers should foot the bill.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 22, 2019

Colorado Gov Polis' first executive order advances transportation electrification

The benefits of vehicle electrification will only increase as the state moves toward establishing a 100% renewable energy mandate, Polis said.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 18, 2019

Virginia rejects majority of Dominion's $6B grid modernization plan, smart meter rollout

The State Corporation Commission deemed the proposal as too expensive, approving only $154.5 million of the first phase — originally projected to cost $1.5 billion.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 18, 2019

PGE demand response pilot offers $1/kWh incentive, targets 10X customer participation rate

Portland General Electric proposed the residential demand response program as part of its Smart Grid Test Bed project, which will also test opt-in approaches to direct load control programs offered with different rates.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 16, 2019

Maryland scales back EV charger program nearly 80%

The Maryland Public Service Commission approved the deployment of 5,000 EV chargers, a significant drop from the 24,000 envisioned in the original proposal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 16, 2019

Utilities see opportunity in Energy as a Service offerings

Innovative ways to finance energy efficiency could help smooth the way for new rate structures and cleaner energy.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 16, 2019

Lowering bills for low-income households with community solar: Partnering on regs, tech

A Minnesota-based non-profit applied its expertise to help shepherd an Energy Assistance provider's 100-kW project in southeast Vermont.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

Oregon 10-year plan aims to reduce energy burden, improve efficiency

The plan focuses on low-income residents, particularly in rural areas, and includes more than $113 million in annual energy cost savings through projects across the state.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 15, 2019

2019 Power Sector Outlook: Top trends to watch

We talked to utilities, analysts and technology providers on what to expect in the year ahead for storage, solar, demand-side management and more.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Jan. 15, 2019

New Flyer wants to help cities, agencies transition to electric bus fleets

The bus manufacturer created a new business unit to offer project management and infrastructure guidance on transitioning to zero-emissions transit fleets.

By Katie Pyzyk • Jan. 14, 2019