California boasts some of the lowest per-capita energy usage in the US, report says

The state ranks among the lowest in the nation for both per-capita energy consumption and per-capita energy spending, according to a new report from Next 10.

By Robert Walton • May 24, 2016

New York PSC enacts new revenue models for utilities in REV proceeding

Utilities in the Empire State have new options to earn revenue, though the traditional cost-of-service model was preserved by regulators as well.

By Gavin Bade • May 20, 2016

Gamification for the grid: Inside Bidgely's Australian demand response pilot

The company helped an Australian utility reduce peak demand 30% among participants by making DR look like a game.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2016

Navigant: Behavioral, data-driven demand management poised for growth

Driven by advanced metering and the smart grid, global spending on behavioral demand response could reach $2.5 billion per year.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2016

What SolarCity's new portfolio of grid services can do for utilities

The dominant residential solar installer is moving beyond the rooftop in a bid to become an essential partner for utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • May 16, 2016

French company takes 80% stake in battery developer Green Charge Networks

French energy firm Engie will not disclose the amount of its stake in Green Charge Networks, but the deal will grow the company's reputation in the energy storage space for C&I customers.  

By Peter Maloney • May 11, 2016

Ohio lawmakers seek further freeze on renewable, efficiency standards

Some lawmakers are pushing to permanently freeze the state's renewables and efficiency mandates as the end of the current, temporary two-year freeze looms large.

By Krysti Shallenberger • May 11, 2016

ComEd jumps on the demand charge train with new Illinois proposal

Residential demand charges have been most popular in the Southwest, but the Chicago-based utility features them prominently in a new legislative push.

By Peter Maloney • May 9, 2016

Updated: Exelon says 2 nuke plants on the line in sweeping new Illinois energy bill

The Next Generation Energy Plan, announced yesterday, would touch virtually every aspect of the state's power industry. Without it, Exelon plans to retire two challenged nuclear plants.

By Peter Maloney • May 6, 2016

SolarCity unveils new software services for utilities, grid operators

The solar developer wants to help utilities deploy fully-dispatchable renewable resources and control DERs on their systems. 

By Gavin Bade, Herman Trabish • May 5, 2016

Underwriting standards: The most important efficiency innovation you've never heard of

The biggest hurdle to large commercial efficiency projects is the cost of the due diligence, which can be greater than the project savings themselves.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

DR down under: Bidgely app delivers 30% peak load reductions in Australia

Bidgely's HomeBeat app helped an Australian utility average a greater than 30% load reduction for peak events last summer, the company claimed. 

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

Dominion maps out more solar, nuclear operating license extensions in IRP

Other parts of the utility's 15-year plan call for more gas as well as a demandside management program capable of reducing peak load by 330 MW.

By Robert Walton • May 4, 2016

Oracle to buy Opower for $532M

This announcement brings an end to Opower's rollercoaster startup story.

By Davide Savenije • May 2, 2016

Diary of a Grid Defector: Scamming an efficiency competition and cows on the loose

Cornell University is the largest employer around the Ithaca area, and its efforts to manage energy use have helped keep costs stable even as its reach and research have grown. And a cow comes calling. 

By Robert Walton • April 29, 2016

FERC rules demand response, generation not subject to same operational requirements

Federal regulators rejected calls for demand response resources to face the same requirements as generation in the PJM market.

By Robert Walton • April 28, 2016

How rate reform can help turn energy efficiency into a 'profit center' for utilities

Traditional ratemaking makes energy efficiency a burden to utilities, but smart regulation can create opportunities for both revenue growth and power conservation.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

For grid flexibility, utilities pushed to think beyond gas plants and storage

There are more cost-effective methods to enhance the power system's responsiveness, a new paper reports.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA

The group is calling for more information sharing and collaborative development of distributed storage solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016

Report: Better efficiency planning delivers enhanced benefits for low-income, minority communities

Low-income families spend more than 7% of their income on energy, compared with 2.3% for higher-income households, according to new data from the American Council for an Energy-Efficienct Economy.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2016

ComEd touts new solar incentives in Illinois legislative push

The utility has a slate of proposals in front of state lawmakers and on Friday, announced new rebates for solar customers to accompany proposed rate changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

Duke, Austin Energy, PG&E among demand response award recipients from PLMA

The Peak Load Management Alliance has highlighted eight innovative demand response programs from 2015, including offerings from Duke, PG&E and others.

By Robert Walton • April 21, 2016

Ohio lawmakers consider extending freeze on renewables, efficiency standards

Waiting until Clean Power Plan litigation is concluded will give more certainty, lawmakers claim. Efficiency advocates warn the move could set the state even farther behind in compliance. 

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

How energy efficiency could become the new 'bridge fuel' to cut carbon

A new report from the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource finds slowing demand growth could drive down wholesale power prices more than 10%.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

SDG&E 'ahead of the curve' to meet California's 50% RPS with help from storage

Ahead of schedule in meeting RPS targets, San Diego Gas & Electric looks to storage and energy efficiency to accommodate more renewables.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016