AMS, SunEdison partner on 50 MW of strategic storage for SCE

The batteries will perform peak shaving and load shifting to relieve distribution system stresses.  

By Herman K. Trabish • July 16, 2015

How rate design can save utilities from the solar death spiral

TOU and RT rates can decrease revenue losses from solar, but can also hamper solar adoption.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 15, 2015

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

San Diego Gas & Electric proposes unique customer-sited energy storage rate

The utility wants regulators to approve discounts for customers who allow the utility to utilize their home batteries for grid services. 

By Herman K. Trabish • July 15, 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

How DOE is remaking itself to help utilities modernize the grid

Now's the time for utilities to take advantage of new partnership and research opportunities, the agency says.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 14, 2015

IPL breaks ground on 20MW storage facility for MISO ancillary services

AES Energy Storage installation will provide MISO with system balancing ancillary services.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 14, 2015

TEP asks regulators to expand rooftop solar offerings, add community solar product

New solar programs would be added to the utility’s rate base and paid for through customer bills, if regulators approve.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2015

Diary of a Grid Defector: How an energy reporter is going off the grid

In the first of a new monthly series, Robert Walton explores what life is like at the edge of the electric system, and how the revolution in distributed energy technologies is changing it.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2015

Duke considers buying into grid emergency services firm

The emergency services company would sell transformers and other transmission equipment to subscribers in the event of grid damage.

By Robert Walton • July 10, 2015

CA utilities want distributed generation to count towards renewables mandate

SCE says not including distributed renewables “picks winners and losers,” and will drive up customer costs.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 10, 2015

Boulder files with regulators to acquire Xcel assets in bid to form municipal utility

The application, filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, focuses only on serving customers in the city and does not seek to take over any generation assets.

By Robert Walton • July 9, 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

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

How the global fuel mix will transform itself over the next 25 years

The world is moving toward a new kind of power sector with renewables at the backbone of the grid.

By Herman K. Trabish • 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

President Obama announces plans to make solar more accessible to middle, low-income customers

A new 300 MW target for federally subsidized housing, a new community solar partnership, and independent solar commitments are all part of the President's announcements.

By Gavin Bade • July 7, 2015

New Georgia law cuts electric car rebates, raising concern about utility EV programs

The law ends a $5,000 EV tax credit and raises today’s $2.77 per gallon gas price to $2.86.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 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

Duke to upgrade 36 MW storage facility to better serve Texas grid

Duke plans to replace the lead acid batteries with lithium-ion technology next year.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2015

SolarCity adds Tesla battery to its new solar-plus-storage home product

The new offering will provide backup power now and be a grid services tool in the future, company officials say.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 6, 2015

Hawaiian Electric delays energy storage project

The utility confirmed that a plan to install 200 MW of battery storage will be delayed a year and is likely to come online in 2018.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2015

HECO files with regulators to cut solar net metering rates in half

HECO also wants to up the minimum monthly bill to cover a cost shift it says costs $53 million per year.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2015

What happened when NRG Energy disrupted its own business model

The country’s biggest independent power producer is going retail with rooftop solar, EV chargers, and connected consumer products.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015

Georgia Power unveils rooftop solar installation offering

The utility will not yet offer leasing or loan financing and the solar arrays "will not be rate based assets," an executive told Utility Dive.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 1, 2015