Despite sluggish demand growth, Duke Energy plans more solar, natural gas in IRP

After taking into account energy efficiency measures, Duke Energy Carolinas expects about 1% annual growth over the next 15 years, according to its recent IRP filed in North Carolina. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 6, 2016

Facing stricter climate goals, California passes 4 bills to boost energy storage

The bills require the state to consider pumped hydro storage, add 500 MW to the state's storage mandate and double California's self-generation program.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 2, 2016

California targets clean transport, urban greening for $900M in cap-and-trade funds

After some lawmakers pushed back on an extension of greenhouse gas goals last month, Gov. Jerry Brown struck a last-minute deal to dole out funds from the state's carbon auctions. 

By Peter Maloney • Sept. 2, 2016

The kilowatt you never use: How National Grid plans to save customers $3.6B through efficiency

National Grid has created a standalone team solely focused on efficiency innovation to meet Massachusetts' aggressive efficiency targets. 

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Location matters: Utilities focus on charger placement to drive electric vehicle adoption

EV pilot programs from Avista and Kansas City Power & Light demonstrate that just building charging stations isn't enough.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Higher fixed fees in play as Nebraska public utilities cut demand growth forecasts

A new report shows Nebraska utilities expect demand growth of just 0.29% across the next two decades.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2016

Utilities deliver value to the customer through real-time mobile engagement

Mobile technologies are impacting utilities by enabling effective customer engagement, improving service levels and delivering critical business insights through big data analytics.

Aug. 30, 2016

Austin Energy, greens reach settlement in rate case

The deal includes development of pro-solar policies and a financial plan to pay for closing the Fayette coal-­fired power plant.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2016

No time to think: How utilities are handling the deluge of grid data

The growth of smart grid technology is outpacing the ability to analyze all its findings, but recent advances in predictive technology and cloud computing may offer solutions for utilities. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2016

FERC approves CAISO tariff changes for demand response, distributed storage

Federal regulators approved California Independent System Operator tariff changes that tweak how non-generator resources bid into markets.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 24, 2016

ACEEE: Energy efficiency lands spot as 3rd largest power resource in the US

Energy efficiency has averted the need to build the equivalent of 313 power plants since 1990, according to a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 23, 2016

Pay As You Save: Co-ops are reaching new customers with a novel way to pay for efficiency

Opt-in tariffs are an increasingly popular way for cooperative providers to finance efficiency upgrades. Why aren't investor-owned utilities following their lead?

By Robert Walton • Aug. 17, 2016

Report: South Dakota failed to enact tighter building codes for stimulus money

The state got almost $24 million in 2009 stimulus money as the economy flailed. In return, it was supposed to enact more efficiency building codes, but didn't.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2016

PJM approves grid's largest efficiency project as part of $636M transmission investment

The $320 million market efficiency project is expected to save almost double that amount over 15 years.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 11, 2016

Massachusetts Gov. Baker signs wind, hydro bill into law

The law calls for long-term contracts for 1,600 MW of wind power and 1,200 MW of hydropower or other renewables.

By Peter Maloney • Aug. 10, 2016

Control of appliance standards will lend next president sway over power sector efficiency

Federal appliance standards have been some of the most effective Obama efficiency policies, but whether they will continue to be updated is in question.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2016

New Hampshire targets 1% in efficiency savings from new standard

The new efficiency goals are a step up from the state's current offerings — which target 0.6% percent for electric savings — compared to 2014 levels.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 9, 2016

The Duck is learning to fly in California and Hawaii

The dreaded 'duck curve' is evolving more slowly than anticipated thanks to smart rate design and efficiency, RAP's Jim Lazar writes.

By Jim Lazar • Aug. 8, 2016

ConEd awards 22 MW of demand response contracts in Brooklyn-Queens project

Battery provider Stem was among 10 auction winners, and expects to install as much as 850 kW of batteries in New York by 2018.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 2016

Nuclear plants safe, New York ISO CEO Brad Jones readies for a low-carbon grid

New transmission and grid practices will be needed for a deeply decarbonized grid, Jones told Utility Dive. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 8, 2016

Indiana utility proposes $25M efficiency plan

As proposed, efficiency programs for Indianapolis Power & Light would cost each customer about $3.25.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2016

MISO, PJM look to address market efficiency projects

The two grid operators are seeking targeted market efficiency projects to address historical congestion, but say a process for expedited approval must be worked out first.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2016

BuildingIQ launches cloud-based platform for energy management

The company is integrating two software suites it acquired earlier this year in a bid to access less-advanced buildings that still want to do optimization work.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2016

Minnesota Power issues RFP for 300 MW of wind energy

The new renewable resources would give Minnesota Power almost a gigawatt of wind energy. The utility is also planning requests for more solar and demand response.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2016

Connecting the dots: PG&E DERMs pilot aims to manage multiple aggregator platforms

PG&E wants a distributed resource management system that can interact with any vendor's software.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 29, 2016