New TVA rate plan includes lower energy prices, grid access charge

The federally-owned utility says its proposed rate structure will "better align wholesale rates with the underlying costs" to serve its 154 local power companies. 

By Robert Walton • March 12, 2018

FERC chair discloses brain tumor, surgery, says he will continue work

Chairman Kevin McIntyre was diagnosed with a "relatively small" brain tumor last summer, he said in a statement, but received "successful surgery" and will continue to work full time. 

By Gavin Bade • March 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

PJM pushes plant payment reforms as RTOs file resilience comments at FERC

PJM wants federal regulators to set deadlines for changes to plant compensation, stoking concerns of a low-profile bailout for uneconomic generators.

By Gavin Bade • March 9, 2018

Energy sector condemns Trump steel, aluminum tariffs

The duties on imported metal commodities will raise prices for power sector infrastructure projects, trade groups said, and could derail Trump's "energy dominance" agenda.

By Peter Maloney • March 9, 2018

Are utilities missing out on the opportunity to use old coal sites for solar?

Two coal-to-solar projects show there can be benefits from taking on the costs of coal site remediation and repurposing – but it is a site-by-site question.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 8, 2018

Sempra nabs Texas regulatory approval to buy Oncor

After numerous rejections, Oncor finally has a suitor that satisfies the state Public Utility Commission. Sempra hopes to close the sale this year. 

By Robert Walton • March 8, 2018

GE aims to enhance solar, wind power performance with new storage platform

The company wants to make inroads into the utility-scale storage market with Reservoir, a modular, four-hour duration battery system.

By Peter Maloney • March 7, 2018

Utilities find groundwater contamination, radioactivity at unlined coal ash sites

The findings come as the Trump administration looks to roll back the Obama-era coal ash rule that compelled utilities to collect groundwater data.   

By Robert Walton • March 5, 2018

Bridging the knowledge gap with virtual and augmented reality

Digital reality can and should serve as a transitional lifeline of sorts for utilities to engage and optimize their new generation of workers. 

By Michael Hartnack • March 1, 2018

The 'stealth NOPR?' PJM CEO says market reforms are no bailout for coal

Some experts are concerned pending reforms in the nation’s largest electricity market could have similar results to a Trump administration subsidy plan rejected by federal regulators.

By Gavin Bade • March 1, 2018

FERC staff: Eversource, Avangrid did not withhold pipeline capacity

An October report from the Environmental Defense Fund asserted the two utilities had artificially constrained capacity on the Algonquin pipeline, driving up power prices in New England.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 28, 2018

Report: Dominion rate review bill could land on Virginia governer's desk next week

The Senate version of a bill to overhaul utilities' rate review has been approved by the House of Delegates, and the House bill was advanced by a Senate committee this week. Each chamber will also need to approve the other's amendments.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2018

South Carolina cooperatives sue Santee Cooper over Summer nuke charge

NextEra is said to be considering a bid for the public utility, and it's unclear how the lawsuit would affect that potential merger. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 27, 2018

Make, buy, or partner: New business model innovation for U.S. utilities

Discover three new business model innovation paths that can help your utility optimize opportunities.

Feb. 27, 2018

Michigan, Louisiana press utilities to return tax savings to customers

The federal corporate tax rate dropped to 21% in January, but some utilities are still billing customers as though the rate is 35%.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2018

Public Citizen says PJM violated FPA with political contributions

PJM says the nearly $500,000 it gave to the governors associations of both political parties was merely for membership fees. The liberal watchdog says that still violates the Federal Power Act.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

LaFleur warns against PJM plan altering 'fundamental' energy market mechanics

The federal regulator said her agency should "think very hard" before it alters which resources can set market prices during an address that also touched on grid resilience and the growth of Western energy markets.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 21, 2018

UPDATED: General Electric creates new unit for energy storage business

The unit will focus on commercial and industrial customers. 

By Peter Maloney • Feb. 20, 2018

Reports: NextEra nearing bid for troubled Santee Cooper

The Florida-based utility could pay up to nearly $15.9 billion for the public utility, but exact pricing remains unclear. 

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 20, 2018

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy calls on TVA chief to step down over 'extravagant' spending

The groups say the Tennessee Valley Authority has spent $40 million on luxury aircraft. The public power agency is also dealing with fallout from the president's proposed budget.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2018

APS to install 50 MW, 135 MWh solar-shifting battery

The contract with developer First Solar will allow APS to use the battery to deliver solar power when electricity use is at its peak, 3-8 p.m. each day.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 12, 2018

Possible sale of Santee Cooper attracts multiple proposals amid Summer nuke fallout

Possible bidders for some or all of the state-owned utility include NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, Southern Co. and Dominion Energy. A group of state cooperatives are also pondering a bid.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2018

SCE&G, Dominion lobby regulators to approve merger amid push to halt Summer cost recovery

If lawmakers halt SCE&G from billing customers for the failed VC Summer nuclear development, it could scuttle the merger with Dominion. 

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2018

Energy tax credits in final budget deal

Despite previous opposition in the House, tax credits for nuclear energy, carbon capture and a variety of gas and renewable technologies are in the bill approved early Friday.

By Gavin Bade • Feb. 8, 2018

Federal board demands 5-year financial plan for PREPA amid privatization push

The utility must find ways to cut costs so that PREPA can deliver power "at more affordable rates," the board said in a letter to Gov. Ricardo Rosselló.  

By Robert Walton • Feb. 8, 2018