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

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

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

HECO, E-Gear try storage to resolve solar installation bottleneck in Hawaii

Hawaiian Electric and E-Gear to deploy storage pilot program to address solar installation bottleneck on Molokai.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2016

Wind and solar provided all new U.S. electric capacity in January

Renewables also beat earlier EIA estimates for generation share in 2015. 

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2016

California utility IID halts net metering incentives after hitting 5% cap

Imperial Irrigation District says it is still accepting applications, but installers say solar is a hard sell without the generation incentives.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2016

Report: Advanced energy market bigger than US beer market

The advanced energy sector in the United Sates is about $200 billion -- twice as big as the beer industry, according to a new report from Advanced Energy Economy. No word yet, however, on how energy performs in a blind taste test.

By Robert Walton • March 7, 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

As Xcel pushes non-wire alternatives, solar+storage pilot sparks utility ownership debate

Everyone loves that Xcel Minnesota is considering DERs instead of traditional infrastructure, but not that the utility wants to own them itself.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 3, 2016

Solar fight turns to presidential-style bare-knuckle campaign tactics

The presidential election season means hardball politics, but TASC's Bryan Miller argues utilities have used dirty tactics to stifle rooftop solar for years.

By Bryan Miller • 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

The sector favorite: Storage tops utility tech picks for second year running

Utility Dive's third annual survey of electric utility professionals shows even greater interest in energy storage.

By Peter Maloney • March 1, 2016

France's EDF will offer solar+storage product via US-based subsidiary

The giant French utility announced plans to enter the residential solar and storage market in an ribbon-cutting for a utility-scale battery project in the PJM region.

By Peter Maloney • March 1, 2016

Consistent change: How utility professionals view the evolving power mix

The new resource mix will meet federal regulations and state mandates with wind and solar supported by natural gas and DERs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 29, 2016

Montana-Dakota Utilities drops demand charge push after deal with solar advocates

Under deals struck with solar advocates and consumer groups, MDU rates would go up about 13% but there will be no solar-specific demand charge.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 29, 2016

How utilities and their regulators will determine the future of solar

Rate design holds the key to whether there are more than 40 states with solar at grid parity in 2020, or just two, according to a new report.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2016

Maine utilities, solar advocates back new bill to replace net metering, grow solar

Under the new bill, utilities would act as "standard buyers" for solar of all types, aggregating multiple generation facilities and bidding them into electricity markets. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2016

Southern Co. seeks to bolster efficiency, DER offerings with $431M PowerSecure deal

The deal for North Carolina-based PowerSecure builds on a trend for Southern and the industry at large as companies look to diversify their energy service offerings and revenue streams. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 25, 2016

Compromise in Mississippi partially restores state regulators authority over co-ops

The amended legislation still allows cooperatives to set net metering rates and design efficiency programs.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 25, 2016

Washington state solar incentive bill set for Senate hearing after House passage

The bill would extend the state's solar incentives until 2021 and boost the size of the program.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 24, 2016

German green utility LichtBlick eyes US expansion for DERMS offering

LichtBlick of Germany is expanding its DERMS tools into the residential market, including the United States.

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 24, 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

Empowerment over protection: How solar and DERs can help the disadvantaged

Policymakers should "seek ways to accelerate adoption of DERs for everyone, including the poor," argue James Tong and Jon Wellinghoff.

By James Tong and Jon Wellinghoff • Feb. 23, 2016

JuiceBox enters residential storage fray with new solar partnerships

The most recent solar+storage partnership combines JuiceBox and Simmitri, a solar designer and installer, following a similar deal inked in January. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 23, 2016