Report: Storage boom to rival solar as battery prices drop 40-60% by 2020

Falling battery storage prices will open up a wide range of options for consumers, but the new technology comes with its own set of risk and rewards.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

PG&E, BMW get electric vehicle demand response program rolling

The BMW iChargeForward program provides more than $1,500 in incentives for customers who allow Pacific Gas & Electric to control their electric vehicle charging.  

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

Senate energy bill set for a floor fight after bipartisan support in committee

Energy committee leaders think they've put together a package that can pass both houses, but a contentious floor fight could doom the first broad energy bill in almost a decade.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2015

Missouri regulators open proceeding on decoupling utility sales, profits

Separating sales from profit means utilities don't have to shy away from energy efficiency, advocates say.

By Robert Walton • July 31, 2015

Why the future of microgrids won't look like the past

Microgrid capacity is expected to double in the next five years, but the new wave of small grids won't look much like the old.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2015

DTE reports earnings, says efficiency advances will keep load flat over next few years

The utility said energy efficiency is growing quickly on its system and will be a key strategy to meeting Clean Power Plan mandates.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2015

Regulators unsatisfied by San Diego Gas & Electric's demand response efforts

The California Public Utilities Commission told the utility its demand response efforts were “insufficient or inconsistent,” and said SDG&E could face penalties.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2015

FERC directs PJM to include demand response in upcoming transition auction

Uncertainty stemming from the Supreme Court's review of FERC Order 745 is not a reason to exclude demand response, the commission found.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2015

CPUC finalizes demand response auction rules for later this year

Up to 20% of the resources must be set aside for residential aggregations.

By Robert Walton • July 27, 2015

Assessing the costs and benefits of distributed energy to the grid of the future

The Electric Power Research Institute is working to perfect a method to calculate distribute energy’s costs and benefits for all stakeholders.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 23, 2015

For top utilities, customer satisfaction hinges on empowerment

It's not enough to provide reliable, affordable power anymore. If you want satisfied customers, you've got to provide them with timely, actionable information.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2015

Maryland PSC approves one of the nation's highest efficiency standards

The state wants utilities to cut retail sales by 2% annually, but utilities are unsure how to achieve such an aggressive target.

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2015

Study: States can use 'green banks' to boost renewables, efficiency investments

Innovative and low-cost capital solutions will be required to meet new greenhouse gas emissions mandates, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2015

The Transportation Grid: How utilities can drive the future of transport

In this guest post, Patty Monahan and Dan Adler lay out a blueprint for utility leadership in electric transportation.

By Patty Monahan and Dan Adler • July 20, 2015

Inside PacifiCorp's IRP: How efficiency will power the Buffett utility's next decade

PacifiCorp won't build another major power plant until 2028, mostly because of demand side solutions.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2015

Comverge, EnerNOC top Navigant's list of DR providers

The firm issued a top-10 of demand response providers, but warned those in the lead that competition is closing in fast.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2015

FERC, PJM file briefs in Supreme Court demand response case

The closely-watched fight over FERC Order 745 and the commission's authority to regulate demand response is heating up with regulators, a grid operator and demand response provider all filing initial briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2015

NV Energy partners with Nevada on electric vehicle highway program

The utility and the state will work together to install charging stations on the highway from Las Vegas to Reno.

By Gavin Bade • July 15, 2015

California struggles with gas capacity in summer heat

High temperatures and supply constraints led to CAISO issuing a call for urgent conservation earlier this month. 

By Gavin Bade • July 14, 2015

How the REV initiative is changing the way New York utilities do business

The investor-owned utilities in New York have proposed more than a dozen demonstration projects, but the biggest innovation may be in how they are embracing the need to create alternative revenue streams and change the way they do business.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2015

National Grid nets $70M in customer savings with Opower efficiency program

The demand management company helped National Grid customers shed 300 million KWh through its energy efficiency program.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

NY regulators open REV discussion on value of grid edge technologies

A new white paper issued alongside the state's Reforming the Energy Vision seeks to understand the costs and benefits of distributed resources, efficiency and new system platforms.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

NRG, Ice Energy partner on 25.6 MW of behind-the-meter storage for SCE

SCE gets the jump on other California utilities in meeting AB 2514 storage requirements.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 8, 2015

GTM: Microgrid spending to crest $3.5B from 2015-2020 in North America

The market will expand by three and a half times, according to Greentech Media.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2015

How California's biggest utilities plan to integrate distributed resources

New plans filed with state regulators show where DERs should go and how much they are worth to utilities.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2015