PG&E, Exelon deals underscore power sector's foray into energy storage

PG&E has teamed up with EDF Renewables to build a storage portfolio while Exelon invests in an energy storage startup.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 7, 2017

Moody's: Low interest rates, fuel costs, will support competitive public power rates in 2018

The ratings agency is maintaining its stable outlook on the U.S. public power sector for 2018, with timely cost recovery and lower capital spending requirements among the supporting factors.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 6, 2017

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

PSEG CEO: Salem, Hope Creek nukes will close absent subsidies

Critics say the plants aren't unprofitable, just not making the margins they want.

By Peter Maloney • Dec. 6, 2017

FirstEnergy files $450M plan to upgrade Ohio distribution grids

Customers of Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison could see faster restoration times in outages and a grid more capable of standing up to adverse weather conditions.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 5, 2017

Vogtle completion 'no longer economic,' Georgia PSC staff says

If the finances of the project do not change, regulatory staff argues it should be cancelled like the V.C. Summer nuclear expansion in South Carolina.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 5, 2017

Cape Wind developers call it quits

Project opponents are celebrating after more than 15 years of fighting the 468 MW offshore wind proposal.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 4, 2017

Project of the Year: SDG&E's Escondido energy storage project

The success of the Escondido project and other Aliso Canyon battery installations is proving energy storage's worth as a bulk power system asset.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 4, 2017

Utility of the Year: Southern California Edison

The California utility set in motion an ambitious plan to cut emissions, invest in grid-edge technology and deploy more energy storage than required under state mandates in a short amount of time. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Dec. 4, 2017

The Utility Dive Awards for 2017

The 2017 Utility Dive Awards recognize the industry’s top disruptors and innovators. These executives, companies and trends are transforming the industry and shaping the future.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade , Krysti Shallenberger , Peter Maloney , Larry Pearl • Dec. 4, 2017

Executive of the Year: Chris Crane, CEO of Exelon

The Exelon CEO is a driving force in state and federal actions that are shaping the future of the U.S. power sector.  

By Larry Pearl • Dec. 4, 2017

Deal of the Year: Oncor and its long list of suitors

Many have courted the largest T&D utility in Texas, but so far all have failed to impress regulators.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 4, 2017

Senate passes tax bill, teeing up mad lobbying rush in conference committee

Clean energy interests will push for removal of the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) provision, while coal and nuclear lobbyists are reportedly planning a push to secure billions in tax credits for at-risk plants.

By Gavin Bade • Dec. 4, 2017

CPUC: SDG&E may not recover $379M from consumers for 2007 wildfires

The closely-watched decision could have implications for other utilities — including Pacific Gas & Electric which is under scrutiny for its role in wildfires that devastated Sonoma and Napa counties this fall. 

By Robert Walton • Dec. 1, 2017

US Trade Rep pushes for another ITC report ahead of solar trade case hearing

Ambassador Robert Lighthizer asked for additional information from the International Trade Commission, pushing back a final decision from President Donald Trump to the end of January. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 30, 2017

West's largest coal plant to stay open through 2019 with new approval

Arizona utility Salt River Project announced Wednesday it secured approval to keep the 2,250 MW Navajo Generating Station open for more than a year. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 30, 2017

PG&E expects wildfire restoration costs to hit up to $200M

In an earnings call, utility officials cautioned that it's too early to pin power equipment as responsible for sparking the massive wildfires that ripped through northern California in October. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 29, 2017

TVA audit reveals Bechtel overcharged by $7M for Watts Bar Unit 2 work

The allegedly excessive costs focused mainly on labor and material handling expenses in constructing the reactor, which began operation last year as the first new nuclear unit in the U.S. in two decades. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2017

Dynegy strikes deal to sell Brayton Point, once New England's largest coal plant

Buyer Commercial Development Co. tells Utility Dive it wants to turn the site into an industrial port and hub for offshore wind power. 

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 22, 2017

Overcoming the small business hurdle: Three engagement approaches for utilities

Targeting customers by vertical, leveraging data to identify potential savings, and removing financial barriers can help utilities increase participation in demand-side management programs, Ecova's Mike Kaplan writes.

By Mike Kaplan • Nov. 22, 2017

NERC CEO Gerry Cauley resigns after arrest on battery, family violence charges

Senior Vice President and General Counsel Charles Berardesco will serve as acting CEO while the grid reliability organization searches for a new chief.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2017

Class action lawsuit targets Eversource, Avangrid over pipeline scheduling

An EDF report alleging the two utilities artificially constrained pipeline capacity has sparked a class action lawsuit from consumers who say the practice raised their electricity rates. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 20, 2017

House cuts wind power incentives, putting sector's fate in Senate hands

Analysts expect the production tax credit to escape tax reform efforts unscathed. But broader changes in both chambers' bills could have a mixed impact on the wind industry.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 20, 2017

ITC lays out case for solar tariffs in report sent to Trump

The ITC on Friday officially filed its recommendations in the solar trade case — none of which changed from when they were announced last month. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • Nov. 20, 2017

PREPA director Ricardo Ramos resigns amid Whitefish contract scandal

The announcement comes just days after Ramos testified before a Senate committee as to how PREPA's contract — the subject of an FBI probe — was negotiated with the Montana-based firm. 

By Robert Walton • Nov. 17, 2017

GE refocuses on power sector as a core business in new turnaround plan

The company's stock took a pounding in the wake of its investor update, with its performance hurt by slow power sector sales.

By Peter Maloney • Nov. 15, 2017