Locational value of DER is essential to grid planning. So why hasn't anyone found it?

Policymakers want to identify the precise value of DER to their power systems, but the system may be changing too fast to make that possible right now.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2018

FirstEnergy reaches settlement to invest $500M in grid modernization

The settlement also returns $900 million to customers as a result of the lowered corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

Explore the Trendline➔

Sustainability

Companies are pursuing increasingly ambitous sustainability goals around clean energy, but integrating rising amounts of renewables, minimizing environmental impacts, and achieving carbon reduction targets can be challenging.

By Utility Dive staff

Lazard: Renewables can challenge existing coal plants on price

The firm's latest findings underscore a number of recent utility moves to replace coal with wind, solar and gas.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 12, 2018

PG&E mimics smart phone data plans with EV charging rate proposal

Pacific Gas & Electric wants to replace demand charges, which have bedeviled electric vehicle charging station business models, with a subscription-based plan more similar to an iPhone data plan.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2018

Don't believe all the blockchain hype

Blockchain may change some aspects of energy markets, but don't expect the revolution evangelists are promising.

By Benjamin L. Gerber • Nov. 9, 2018

Storage will replace 3 California gas plants as PG&E nabs approval for world's largest batteries

Installation of more than 2,200 MWh of storage will be the first time a utility directly replaces multiple major fossil fuel generators with batteries.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 9, 2018

94% of utility execs expect 'severe' earnings pressure before 2025: Accenture

Of the same executives surveyed, 97% also believe that earnings will rise after 2025, once the utility sector has moved past the growing pains of modernization, according to the management consulting firm's study.

By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 7, 2018

Ballot initiative flops mask strong election for clean energy

The failure of high-profile ballot initiatives in Arizona and Washington came amid wins for renewable energy supporters in key gubernatorial races.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 7, 2018

Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership

The Texas regulatory docket will determine which companies get to own battery storage and other non-traditional grid technologies in the state. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2018

Tesla community storage pilot launches 3 months early in Australia

The project utilizes a 105 KW / 420 KWh Tesla Powerpack battery system and will store solar energy during the day, providing power during peak demand times.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018

Pennsylvania utilities push back on 'prescriptive' ratemaking regulation

The passage of Act 58 gives state regulators authority to approve alternative rate mechanisms, but utilities say a proposed policy statement is too heavy-handed.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 6, 2018

Sonnen prepares its next step in aggregating residential storage

Sonnen has turned residential energy storage into virtual power plants in Germany, but has to adapt to do that in the U.S.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 6, 2018

Nevada's Question 3 pits retail choice against uncertainty in battle of billionaires

Voters could pass a constitutional amendment that restructures the state's regulated utility, opens a competitive electricity market and subjects customers and lawmakers to hard questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 1, 2018

Blink, Hubject partner to advance EV-charging network communications

The pair want to build "seamless charging interoperability" for all drivers participating in Hubject's iplatform, which could lead to two-way communications between the charging networks and vehicles.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2018

Salt River Project, NREL team up to assess value of distributed energy storage

The Arizona utility began offering an $1,800 incentive in May to the first 4,500 customers who purchase lithium-ion storage services systems and agree to participate in the study.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 29, 2018

Western states explore standards for DC Fast Charger stations

Eight Western states that last year committed to developing a regional electric vehicle plan are now seeking information on how to ensure interoperability among charging stations.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2018

Minnesota, New York lead on shared renewables; California, Connecticut fall short

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council released its annual scorecard Thursday, grading 17 programs across 12 states on their shared renewable energy programs.

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 26, 2018

#UtilityDiveLive Twitter chat calls out utilities advancing DER

We partnered with the Smart Electric Power Alliance to talk about the opportunities and pitfalls of getting to the grid of the future.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2018

Puerto Rico considers move to 100% renewables, ending PREPA monopoly

The Puerto Rico House and Senate will hold a hearing this week to consider ending the monopoly status of the island's utility and generating 100% of its electric power from renewables by 2050.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 24, 2018

DOE awards $53M for new solar research projects: chart

Award recipients, largely universities, span 21 states and the District of Columbia for research projects that include ​achieving a levelized cost of solar electricity at $0.03/kWh. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 24, 2018

New York energy storage: destination clear, road unsure

Stakeholders see different paths to reaching 1,500 MW of energy storage by 2025.

By Peter Maloney • Oct. 23, 2018

Why blockchain will power the new energy network

Other than power trading, there are three major use cases for blockchain to impact the grid — grid security and generation balancing, infrastructure and microgrid financing, and a new REC.

By Kevin Stevens • Oct. 23, 2018

Digitalizing the power sector

As digitalization continues to spread rapidly across the power sector, industry leaders must learn how to adapt their own technology, internal processes, and business practices to the digital age.

By Kelvin Ross Content Manager Clarion Energy/POWER-GEN International • Oct. 22, 2018

NY regulators weigh proposals to enhance distributed generation

The Public Service Commission wants to expand customer participation in Community Distributed Generation projects, while also considering the recommendations laid out in the state's Energy Storage Roadmap.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2018

Can the price of rooftop solar keep falling?

"If prices keep dropping, [rooftop solar] adoption will continue and a smart utility CEO would watch the market and think about ways utilities can have some control over distributed resources," Yale's Kenneth Gillingham said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 18, 2018