Green bank in Michigan could reel in $3B in private investment

The Union of Concerned Scientists said the state of Michigan could leverage $105 million to attract billions in private investment if it utilizes the "green bank" concept.

By Robert Walton • March 17, 2016

How Pepco's old-school marketing strategy is maximizing DR innovation

Door to door marketing. It works, says Pepco.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2016

Learning by doing: How utilities are answering the distributed energy resources challenge

As our 2016 survey shows, utilities are beginning to understand how they can make money with distributed resources, but it's still a work in progress.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 9, 2016

'Game-ifying' demand response: How one utility tries to keep DR programs fresh for customers

Baltimore Gas & Electric can shift more than 725 MW of its summer peak load thanks to a pair of innovative demand response programs that operate in very different ways.

By Robert Walton • March 9, 2016

SDG&E issues call for 140 MW of renewables, DERs, demand-side resources

The utility has issued an RFO for storage, renewables, distributed generation, energy efficiency and demand response resources to comply with CPUC procurement targets.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 9, 2016

FERC greenlight changes to NYISO's demand response pricing

Federal regulators last week approved changes to the New York ISO's scarcity pricing logic designed to more accurately reflect the value of demand response.

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2016

Wisconsin lawmakers consider bill to slash energy efficiency program funding

Proposed changes in how the funds from Wisconsin's Focus on Energy efficiency program are collected from ratepayers could axe about $7 million from the budget.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2016

Opower extends demand management tools, but cuts 2016 revenue target

The demand management company has lowered its 2016 revenue expectations but said its new suite of offerings can help utilities manage demand even more efficiently.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 2016

EIA: FERC Order 745 to spark swift growth in demand response markets

The average residential customer received about $40 in incentives for participating in a demand response program in 2014, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated.

By Robert Walton • March 4, 2016

New York REV shows utilities and regulators how to manage change

In this guest post, Eleanor Stein, a former PSC judge and REV project manager, offers insight on how coordination between utilities, regulators, and the public can boost trust in the regulatory process.

By Eleanor Stein • March 3, 2016

Maine PUC, lawmakers wrestle over efficiency spending for 2nd year in a row

Staff of the Maine Public Utilities Commission want to trim the state's 3-year efficiency budget by $45 million.

By Robert Walton • March 3, 2016

Moniz: Obama's efficiency regulations are here to stay

Department of Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said even if a Republican president attempted to overturn a slate of appliance and building standards, they would likely lose in court.

By Robert Walton • March 3, 2016

New Jersey approves $5.3M in efficiency incentives

Provided through New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program, the incentives will make allow a half dozen businesses to upgrade equipment aimed at energy, operations and maintenance cost savings.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2016

Green Charge deploys storage in San Diego financed by savings from peak demand reduction

Green Charge Networks is applying its benefits-sharing financing model to offer 7.4 MWh of energy storage at no cost to the school district that will host it. 

By Peter Maloney • March 2, 2016

Long live the duck — and may he fly flat

In this guest post, Jim Lazar, senior advisor at the Regulatory Assistance Project, offers new techniques to combat the dreaded Duck Curve

By Jim Lazar • March 2, 2016

To help build the 'smart city' utilities need to shed their legacy thinking

In the future, smart cities will have smart utilities. But a new report from Black & Veatch finds there's a long way to go, and the power industry is evolving slowly.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2016

New York utilities seek non-wire alternatives in REV-inspired RFP

ConEdison and New York State Electric & Gas have each issued solicitations aimed at avoiding the need for new wires and old-style generation.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2016

Utilities want to make money at the edge of the grid, but how?

Energy efficiency and demand-side management top the list of emerging revenue streams in Utility Dive's recent survey of more than 500 utility professionals. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2016

Oregon bill to curb coal, boost renewables amended to give PUC more oversight

Amid concerns concerns utility regulators had not been consulted, and the possibility for higher rates, Oregon's Senate made changes to a measure aimed at phasing out coal use and setting a 50% renewable energy standard. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2016

Rhode Island bank to shell out $25M in efficiency financing

The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank is funding $25 million in efficiency projects, and state officials say the program is off to a strong start.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2016

'A battery in every basement': How the lowly water heater could power the smart grid

A new coalition of co-ops, environmentalists and demand response is seeking to harness the power of a different sort of energy storage. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2016

Partnering for success: Utilities leverage innovative vendor relationships at the grid edge

From smart meters to distribution automation and residential storage, opportunities abound for utilities bold enough to reach out to innovative third parties. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 23, 2016

FERC: No plans to reconsider demand response compensation

As the dust settles following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Order 745, some have called for FERC to reconsider how demand response is valued. But three of the commission's four members say there are no plans to change compensation.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Why the Supreme Court stay on the Clean Power Plan 'means nothing' for efficiency

The high court's decision to stay the Obama administration's signature climate legislation is unprecedented, but for energy efficiency the gains were already in the works.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2016

Northwest to lean heavily on efficiency to meet 20 years of demand

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council has approved a 20-year plan to reliably supply the region with electricity, and expects to meet most new demand with energy efficiency.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 15, 2016