Kentucky utility installs home storage for demand response pilot program

The Kentucky municipal utility, serving 14,000 customers, is looking to reduce its carbon emissions by 25% by testing out a pilot program using energy storage widgets. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2015

ComEd targets 1M smart thermostats by 2020

The program is easily among the most ambitious in the U.S. today, and could help Illinois's compliance under the U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan. 

By Davide Savenije • Oct. 9, 2015

PECO: Energy efficiency programs have saved customers $463M since 2009

Philadelphia-based PECO's suite of efficiency offerings has helped customers reduce their electric use by more than 2 million MWh, aligning with Pennsylvania's energy efficiency goals. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2015

Illinois pilot aims to prove demand response can be year-round resource in PJM market

The Environmental Defense Fund and PJM Interconnection are heading up a Chicago-based pilot program that will bundle intermittent resources and responsive capacity. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 8, 2015

Michigan energy efficiency standard netted $4B in savings

As state policymakers try to end Michigan's renewable and efficiency standards, a new report from the state's utility regulators shows that every dollar spent on energy efficiency returns more than $4 to ratepayers. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 7, 2015

Residential energy storage: The industry's next big thing

Utility-scale storage projects have been getting big press lately, but the market for small residential installations is poised to explode – and upend the energy market landscape.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

GE to sink $1 billion into energy efficiency, storage venture

General Electric (GE) is developing a new business venture to focus on energy efficiency and storage, targeting commercial, industrial, utility and municipal customers.  

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2015

Google opens Nest protocols to developers, growing the 'connected' home

Beginning next year, Google will open up its Nest Weave communication protocol to developers looking to create apps and physical products to boost number of devices talking to each other in the so-called "connected" home. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

Comcast expands home energy management with new partner Crius

The nation's largest cable provider has teamed up with Crius Energy to expand energy offerings in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New Jersey.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 5, 2015

House energy committee passes grid modernization bill

The Energy and Commerce Committee passed the measure by 32-20 in a bipartisan vote to protect crucial infrastructure from 21st century threats such as grid security, severe weather and moderizing grid infrastructure. 

By Robert Walton • Oct. 2, 2015

Nebraska demand response study foiled by nice weather

 Lincoln Electric System wanted to study how it could reduce peak demand during the summer, but its demand response pilot was foiled by mild temperatures.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 1, 2015

Energy efficiency's not so easy anymore — but the potential is still enormous

Utilities looking to boost energy efficiency will need to rely on a broader range of emerging technologies than in the past, but over the next 15 years could save more than 30% of projected energy sales.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2015

CPUC puts PG&E electric vehicle charging program on hold

The commission will hold more hearings to determine the impact of utility EV charging investments on private charger builders and customers without electric cars.

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 29, 2015

New York to boost CHP systems for hospitals, schools by 10%

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is providing more than $41 million to the combined heat and power projects.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 28, 2015

How to become the 'Utility of the Future?' Industry experts weigh in

The key to creating the utility of the future is combining consumer demands with emerging technology in smart grids, energy efficiency and distribution generation, experts said during the 2015 Solar Power International conference. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 28, 2015

Hawaii PUC approves solar TOU rate pilot for co-op KIUC

The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative will cut daytime power rates about 25% for participants in a bid to get them to utilize more solar during its peak generating hours.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 25, 2015

Indiana advocates say utilities are scaling back efficiency efforts

Efficiency advocates say Indiana's decision to nix mandatory targets has led to a predictable scaling back by utilities and possibly overcharging customers. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 25, 2015

Climate Change: Why every utility, regulatory body, and DER company needs a point person for it

A look at how DER, and all of the different components and aspects of smart grid, fit into climate strategies and action plans.

Sept. 23, 2015

How aggregated storage can help utilities create a 'new kind of demand response'

Grouping customer-sited storage offers utilities and vendors a world of new DR opportunities, but getting all the moving parts to align is a difficult and time-consuming process for stakeholders.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 23, 2015

Inside Southern California Edison's energy storage strategy

Nearly a year on from a monster storage buy, SCE President Pedro Pizarro spoke to Utility Dive about what his company's learned about storage and the next steps for its wider deployment.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 22, 2015

Energy Dept. unveils plan to double energy productivity by 2030

The DOE "roadmap" calls for updated vehicle standards, efficient rate designs, putting more information into hands of consumers and businesses reinvesting avoided energy costs.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 22, 2015

The top 10 trends transforming the electric power sector

From the decline of coal power to the rise of energy storage, big changes are quickly taking hold in the industry.

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 17, 2015

Ohio solar-storage project will be nation's largest, developer claims

S&C Electric will develop a 7-MW storage project to help an Ohio town manage peak energy use.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2015

Berkeley study favors carrot over stick when it comes to green policies

Initial green policies often turn into industry growth strategies, but a team from UC Berkeley finds incentives work better than penalities.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 17, 2015

Virtual power plants: Moving beyond demand response to an integrated solution

Finding ways to quickly aggregate many flexible loads can help utilities magnify their DSM capabilities, reducing the need for peaker plants.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 16, 2015