SCE floats new wildfire grid upgrades after passage of California law

SCE's proposed $582 million hardening package comes in response to Senate Bill 901, which required utilities to update fire mitigation plans.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 12, 2018

McIntyre again defends FERC chief of staff amid political influence concerns

The FERC chairman said his chief of staff is "highly qualified" despite his comments that were widely interpreted as a statement that FERC is working with the White House on a bailout for coal and nuclear generators. 

By Gavin Bade • Sept. 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

Lyft commits to 100% renewable energy, full carbon neutrality

The company is "doubling down on our climate and clean energy commitments" just in time for the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco.

By Kristin Musulin • Sept. 11, 2018

Developers see value in California offshore wind development

Following market growth and big contract price drops along the East Coast, offshore wind developers are taking on floating foundations and the Navy on the West Coast. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Sept. 10, 2018

Let's bring back utility preferred stock... Sort of

The former senior director of S&P Global Ratings and founder of Utility Credit Consultancy makes a modest proposal to fundamentally change utility capital structures by adopting hybrid securities.

By Todd Shipman • Sept. 10, 2018

Pepco unveils $15M transportation electrification program for DC

Electric vehicle growth has been uneven in the District of Columbia, where two-thirds of residents are renters and have limited access to charging infrastructure.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2018

Duke 15-year plans lean heavy on gas to replace coal

Two-thirds of Duke's new capacity through 2033 will be from gas-fired power plants if regulators approve two resource plans submitted by the utility last week. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 10, 2018

NextEra aims to reduce CO2 emissions rate 65% by 2021

Claiming one of the lowest emissions profiles of electric companies in North America, NextEra Energy announced a target to lower its rate of emissions 13% beyond reductions achieved since 2001.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Sept. 7, 2018

Arizona Supreme Court rules 50% renewables initiative will appear on ballot

A utility-backed opposition group says it will now focus on convincing customers to vote against the measure, which would set a 50% renewable portfolio standard.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 4, 2018

NRG completes sale of renewables platform to GIP

The deal allows NRG to shed $6.7 billion in debt and refocus on its retail electricity business. 

By Robert Walton • Sept. 4, 2018

As Kentucky regulators reject smart meter plans, troubling trend continues for AMI

Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric "failed to provide sufficient evidence" that smart meters would benefit customers, regulators ruled last week.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2018

LBNL: Wind prices at record lows but future installations remain uncertain

The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory expects installed wind capacity to plateau after 2021, when the resource's federal production tax credit begins to phase out.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 29, 2018

Playing with wildfire: California lawmakers outline utility liabilities in new report

What can state legislators accomplish in the last days of voting regarding the exposure that investor-owned utilities face to wildfire damages?

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated Aug. 28, 2018

Eversource completes sale of New Hampshire hydro plants

Company officials say the sale is the "final milestone in the deregulation of the electric utility industry in the Granite State."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2018

HECO warns of extended outages as Hawaii braces for Hurricane Lane

Experts are concerned the slow-moving storm could disrupt fuel deliveries or petroleum refining in the state, which relies on oil for much of its electricity generation.

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 24, 2018

Are regulators starting to rethink fixed charges?

Fixed rate reductions in Q2 of this year may indicate regulators are more conscious of low and moderate income customers as well as investments in energy efficiency and distributed energy resources. 

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 23, 2018

Duke moves to stop FirstEnergy Solutions from exiting Ohio co-op

Consumer advocates worry that a bankruptcy court decision allowing FES to withdraw from the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation, which operates a pair of coal plants, could raise prices for retail consumers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2018

Lawmakers unlikely to give California utilities slack in wildfire liability rules, LA Times reports

State legislators are abandoning a proposal to reduce electric utility liability in instances where the company is not found to be negligent, hesitant to do anything that will look like a "bailout."

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2018

FirstEnergy takes reluctant step toward 3 nuclear plant closures

Still hoping for state support that would keep the plants running, the utility is planning to shutter two nuclear plants in Ohio and one in Pennsylvania.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2018

PJM prepares new capacity repricing rule in response to FERC order

The RTO is considering a resource specific carve-out, or "ReCO," as an alternative to the minimum offer price rule that FERC rejected.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 16, 2018

FERC halts Atlantic Coast, clears 3 other pipeline projects in busy Friday

The decisions came hours before Republicans lost their one-vote majority on FERC. Until a replacement is confirmed, Democrats can deadlock agency votes. 

By Gavin Bade • Aug. 13, 2018

Report: Tesla Solar Roof production delayed over product aesthetics, EV prioritization

Despite CEO Elon Musk's boasts about the installment of the undetectable renewable generating structure during Q2 calls, employees at New York's Gigafactory 2 reported production challenges and delays.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 10, 2018

An offer utilities can't refuse: The low cost of utility-scale solar

A new report finds even policy uncertainties have not stopped the growing partnership between utilities and solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 9, 2018

Four steps for utilities to improve engagement with small and medium businesses

Small and medium businesses are often underserved as energy customers, and utilities can find it challenging to engage them. However, four research-based steps outline how utilities and their partners can improve that engagement.

By Patty Durand, Austin Whitman • Aug. 9, 2018

SC Senate sues McMaster for overstepping in naming Santee Cooper chair

McMaster said the leadership position at Santee Cooper could not go unfilled as a board meeting is coming up this month.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Aug. 9, 2018