Pepco's proposed EV charger incentive puts environmental and consumer groups at odds

Regulators in Washington, D.C., will need to make a decision on the proposed $500 rebate, knowing that some consumer advocates remain opposed.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 10, 2020

Reimagining the grid: How PGE, SCE and others are prepping for transportation electrification

There's no question that electric vehicles can provide a net benefit to the system, according to Portland General Electric President and CEO Maria Pope.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 4, 2020

Explore the Trendline➔

Distributed Energy Resource Growth

Distributed energy resources, including rooftop solar, battery storage and electric vehicles, are experiencing significant growth in the U.S. as the power sector evolves to a cleaner, less centralized future.

By Utility Dive staff

State regulators need cyclical reviews to get the most out of utility performance incentive mechanisms: Report

Upending utility business models is more easily done with complementary state policies and continuous improvement of incentives, according to Energy Innovation and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Feb. 4, 2020

How ConEd and National Grid are experimenting with energy storage in New York

Consolidated Edison is in the middle of several major projects to advance the state's distributed grid, while working to add 300 MW of energy storage by 2023.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

Q&A: GE CTO on adapting to the clean energy transition

Utility Dive caught up with GE Grid Solutions' Chief Technology Officer Vera Silva to discuss the shifting technology space in the utility industry, as well as short and long-term solutions for decarbonizing the power grid.

By Catherine Morehouse • Feb. 3, 2020

At a crossroads: The connected future of EVs, solar, energy storage and software

The need for partnership across industries is increasing as the EV market continues to expand and challenge a static electric grid, driving industry forward to a clean, connected future, the authors write.

By Wes Doane and Lior Handelsman • Jan. 31, 2020

Xcel assesses non-wires alternatives to distribution upgrade as it enters new proceedings in Colorado, Minnesota

The utility teamed up with the Electric Power Research Institute, finding the use of storage and demand response could defer the need to upgrade a feeder on its system, Distributech attendees heard Jan. 28.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 30, 2020

PG&E is betting heavily on microgrids. But can it move away from fossil fuels?

The utility is proposing to deploy 300 MW of temporary generation in areas that are vulnerable to public safety power shut-offs. 

By Kavya Balaraman • Jan. 28, 2020

2020 Outlook: New state action on customer empowering rate designs and business models

Regulators, utilities and stakeholders will pilot simple price signals and work toward agreement on a performance-based framework, but California may be in for a surprise.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 23, 2020

2020 Utility Dive Outlooks: What's in store for coal, gas, renewables, DER and beyond

2020 promises to be another busy year across the U.S. power sector as the energy transition gathers more steam.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 23, 2020

2020 Outlook: Utilities will be pushed to further embrace distributed energy resources

As net metering fades, some states will move ahead with new visions for DERs, while others are playing catch-up.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 17, 2020

How much — and how fast — will Colorado change its utility business model?

Xcel Energy's Colorado utility cautions that implementing performance-based regulation too quickly could "jeopardize" the state's progress toward clean energy.

By Matthew Bandyk • Jan. 16, 2020

Wind + solar expected to add 61 GW over next two years: EIA

Renewable energy is expected to grow quickly alongside steady natural gas growth as more capacity is needed to replace retiring coal.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

Early utility regulator retirement gives Wisconsin opportunity to move on third party solar impasse

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a renewable energy proponent, will have the chance to shift the state's utility regulatory body toward his agenda after Commissioner Mike Huebsch's early retirement.

By Catherine Morehouse • Jan. 15, 2020

2020 Outlook: 10 trends driving the US power sector

From utilities to states to grid operators, the energy transformation is accelerating, but significant challenges remain.

By Larry Pearl • Jan. 13, 2020

PJM: Electric vehicles could boost load 1.5 GW by 2035

One industry group says the forecast is likely too modest, as the addition of a plug-in vehicle can nearly double a household's electric consumption and adoption is expected to rise rapidly.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 7, 2020

Making the case for billion-dollar investments in grid modernization by answering 3 key questions

Boston Consulting Group’s framework prioritizes the business case for grid mod investments to win stakeholder and regulator backing for billion-dollar spending.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 6, 2020

Navigant predicts rapid growth in vehicle-grid integration revenues

Utilities are just beginning to consider how electric vehicles can help manage the grid, but Navigant Research anticipates a rapid increase in capabilities that will ultimately mean more dollars flowing back to customers.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 20, 2019

Tax credit, net metering declines strike distributed solar, but falling costs, storage offer new hope

With tax credits and net metering threatened, previous withdrawals of financial support mechanisms show what the distributed solar industry may soon face.

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 19, 2019

Investigations of ComEd, Exelon lobbying threaten Illinois energy transition

Lawmakers and clean energy advocates vow to continue fighting for the state's landmark clean energy bill despite a "black cloud of corruption."

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 17, 2019

California moves to boost storage to combat safety-driven power shutoffs

A proposed decision by the Public Utilities Commission would expand the state's Self-Generation Incentive Program to benefit customers in high fire-threat areas.

By Kavya Balaraman • Updated Jan. 16, 2020

Tesla's Australian virtual power plant propped up grid during coal outage

The company's virtual power plant of 50,000 houses is only 2% complete so far, but it proved its worth during a generator outage this fall.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 11, 2019

Utilities can profit from a DER-heavy future by transitioning from traditional business models: report

New industry research highlights a path to expanding the business models for distribution utilities as more rooftop solar and energy storage is added behind the meter.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 11, 2019

Minnesota pioneers integration of new interconnection standard expected to propel DERs

Integration of the IEEE standard will mean that distributed energy resources can automatically respond to certain grid conditions, enabling significantly higher penetrations on the grid, the author writes.

By Sara Baldwin • Dec. 9, 2019

Disruptor of the Year: Sunrun

The solar and storage developer has been pioneering new business models to increase aggregation of distributed resources.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 9, 2019