Texas regulators question common reliability metric as they pursue new standard for ERCOT grid

Requiring planning margins to ensure load shedding occurs only once a decade is an outdated approach that ignores the realities of the modern power grid, some experts warn.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2023

PG&E faces time crunch on Diablo Canyon license renewal as California weighs nuclear plant’s future

The utility, which plans to apply for a 20-year license renewal for the 2.2-GW plant at the end of 2023, will need to complete roughly five years of work in a year and a half, a company executive said.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 24, 2023

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Cybersecurity of the Grid

While cyberthreats to the power sector are expanding, so are the tools to address them. But a key question remains — are companies doing what's needed to reduce the risk?

By Utility Dive staff

DOE cyber chief gets bipartisan grilling as senators question US reliance on China for grid equipment

U.S. lawmakers on Thursday pressed the head of DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response Preparedness for details about foreign-manufactured components but got few answers.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2023

As CISA chief notes lack of Russian cyberattacks against US, experts focus on enhancing nuclear reactor security

Protecting the nation’s nuclear energy resources will require a balance of offensive and defensive capabilities, experts agree. There is also optimism for enhanced safety at advanced reactors.

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2023

FERC expands cybersecurity supply chain standards to low-impact assets

“To not protect these [bulk electric system] assets against one of the most frequent attack scenarios — supply chain — would be a big mistake,” said Willie Phillips, acting chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • March 16, 2023

Extreme weather events are expanding — the US power grid is not

FERC, governors, state regulators and utilities should focus their efforts on interregional transmission development by encouraging investments that will yield significant long-term benefits.

By Barbara Tyran • March 16, 2023

CISA launches ransomware warning pilot for critical infrastructure providers

The Joint Ransomware Task Force is coordinating the program, called the Ransomware Vulnerability Warning Pilot, actively warning organizations about internet-accessible vulnerabilities linked to known threat actors.

By David Jones • March 15, 2023

NERC issues alert, recommendations to solar resources following inverter-based grid disturbances

The rapid interconnection of inverter-based resources “poses a high risk to grid reliability,” warned the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.

By Robert Walton • March 15, 2023

EPA, DOE issue framework for maintaining grid reliability during energy transition

The agencies will consider “short-term interventions” to address emerging reliability risks, according to the agreement released Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • March 10, 2023

California regulators set to launch proceeding to investigate natural gas price spikes this winter

With natural-gas fired generators producing about half of the state's electricity, the CPUC is looking at how high gas prices have affected California's power markets.

By Kavya Balaraman • March 10, 2023

New White House cyber strategy could drive utility costs higher, warns security expert

A national approach to cybersecurity will likely mean higher costs for utilities and the communities they serve, said Ethan Schmertzler, CEO of operational technology security firm Dispel.

By Robert Walton • March 6, 2023

White House releases national cyber strategy, shifting security burden

The long-anticipated policy will push the technology industry to shoulder more of the load for cyber risk, while promoting long-term investments and global cooperation against common threats. 

By David Jones • March 2, 2023

Duke, APS planning reforms show ways to work with stakeholders to meet emerging power system needs

Integrated planning with deeper modeling and greater stakeholder engagement may slow overburdened regulators and utilities now, but will lead to better long-term decision-making, planners and analysts agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 28, 2023

APS parent Pinnacle West’s 2022 net income plunges 22% on disallowed cost recovery

Arizona regulators denied APS recovery of more than $200 million it spent to modernize the Four Corners coal plant. As a result, the company “faced major financial headwinds” last year, officials said. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 28, 2023

DOE announces $48M to improve semiconductor technologies for better grid control and protection

The program will be managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy and will focus on improving semiconductors, which are essential components in controlling power generation and transmission.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2023

Hackers are ‘increasingly bold,’ NERC warns, as Dragos report identifies new grid threats

Security firm Dragos is now tracking 20 hacking groups targeting operational technology and industrial control systems, with a growing number focused on energy infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 24, 2023

New power system cybersecurity architectures can be ‘vaults’ against insider attacks, analysts say

Utility operations facing hackers now, and a future of minimally-protected distributed energy resources, will need smarter, more complex defenses, from control rooms to customer-owned devices, analysts said.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 17, 2023

FERC OKs cold weather reliability standards for US generators but orders NERC to address shortcomings

Proposals from the North American Electric Reliability Corp. were considered “not up to the task." FERC directed the grid watchdog organization to bolster them, partly by setting certain deadlines.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023

Texas Sen. Menéndez: Performance credit could take years to implement, but efficiency and DR are immediate

An overhaul of the Texas energy market could take years to implement while energy-saving measures could be launched “today, tomorrow, the next day,” said state Sen. José Menéndez, D.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2023

FERC rejects American Clean Power, RENEW Northeast complaint alleging ISO-NE bias towards gas plants

Amid a wintertime reliability threat, the agency should propose a solution for New England instead of waiting for the grid operator to offer one, Commissioner Allison Clements said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2023

NRC issues first update of 2010 regulatory guide to strengthen cybersecurity at nuclear plants

The revision incorporates references to industry guidance on identifying and protecting critical digital assets. It also clarifies guidance on comprehensive protections for cybersecurity.

By Stephen Singer • Feb. 13, 2023

US microgrid market to grow 19% annually through 2027, Wood Mackenzie projects

Microgrids continue to add capacity as green initiatives spur development, but high costs associated with renewable technology remain a challenge, a Wood Mackenzie analyst said.

By Henrik Nilsson • Feb. 8, 2023

Sunrun, PG&E to roll out 30-MW virtual power plant to support California grid in the summer

Sunrun will create the virtual power plant by enrolling up to 7,500 existing and new rooftop solar and battery systems in PG&E’s footprint.

By Kavya Balaraman • Feb. 7, 2023

FBI thwarts neo-Nazi plot to attack Baltimore Gas & Electric substations, ‘completely destroy’ city

Two suspects were charged in federal court in Maryland with plotting to attack utility substations with firearms. Experts say the plan could have resulted in widespread outages.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 7, 2023

Texas wind energy freeze-out shows need for better resource adequacy, says NRG VP

Renewable energy underperformed in Texas during the Feb. 1 winter storm but outperformed fossil fuels during December's winter storm Elliott, said NRG Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Travis Kavulla.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2023