As utility stocks rally, Wall Street debates value of sector in aftermath of Brexit vote

The Brexit vote and other macroeconomic trends have drawn investors into the utility sector, leading analysts to worry stocks are higher than they should be.

By Robert Walton • July 19, 2016

UPDATED: NextEra, Hawaiian Electric terminate merger after PUC rejection

Hawaii regulators rejected the merger application Friday, leaving the door open for future ownership changes at the state's dominant utility. 

By Davide Savenije , Krysti Shallenberger • July 18, 2016

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

Report: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bids to buy Oncor

Buffett's energy holding company reportedly offered $18 billion for the largest regulated utility in Texas. 

By Robert Walton • July 15, 2016

Hawaii PUC investigates anonymous 'smear' complaint against new commissioner

A 10-page unsigned document questioned how Gov. David Ige appointed Thomas Gorak to replace former Commissioner Michael Champley last month. 

By Robert Walton • July 14, 2016

Utility clean energy rankings reveal 'unprecedented shift' in power sector paradigms

Even among renewable energy laggards, there's a growing consensus that wind and solar are at the center of the 21st century electricity system.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 13, 2016

PG&E, SolarCity partner for solar+storage, grid services pilot

Up to 150 customers in San Jose will receive smart inverters or battery storage systems, and SolarCity will get a chance to demonstrate its suite of grid services. 

By Robert Walton • July 13, 2016

'Universal access': How PSEG CEO Ralph Izzo aims to make efficiency, DERs available to all consumers

Izzo wants utilities to supply DER solutions to consumers not served in the current marketplace.

By Gavin Bade • July 12, 2016

Southern Co. to purchase 50% stake in Kinder Morgan pipeline system

The announcement comes about a week after Southern closed on its acquisition of AGL Resources, making it the second largest utility company in the country.

By Robert Walton • July 12, 2016

Report: NextEra-HEI decision delayed by regulatory infighting

A majority opinion on the acquisition was reached last month, a Hawaii news station reports, but regulators could not agree on the wording of the order before Gov. Ige appointed a new commissioner, throwing the process into flux.

By Gavin Bade • July 11, 2016

Solar spokesperson Bryan Miller no longer at Sunrun, TASC

Miller's advocacy style gained him a high profile in the power sector.

By Krysti Shallenberger • July 8, 2016

Bloomberg: U.S. and Canada account for 63% of utility M&A

The value of North American electric utility deals is $30 billion higher at this point in 2016 than it was last year.

By Peter Maloney • July 7, 2016

Anatomy of a nuke closure: How PG&E decided to shutter Diablo Canyon

In a policy environment that prizes renewables, PG&E saw no cost-effective route to keeping the giant nuclear plant open.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 7, 2016

Report: Warren Buffett energy company could be eyeing bid for Hawaiian Electric

MidAmerican Energy Services, owned by Berkshire Hathaway, may be preparing to make a bid for Hawaiian Electric Co. if the NextEra-HEI merger proposal on the table fails, Pacific Business News reports. 

By Robert Walton • July 6, 2016

Inside the first municipal solar-plus-storage project in the US

The Village of Minster tackled a solar-plus-storage project to diversify its portfolio and now looks to build a microgrid to protect its key C&I customers from power outages. 

By Herman K. Trabish • July 5, 2016

Sonnen teams up with Enbala, combining storage with grid management

The integration of Enbala software could help utilities control and aggregate numerous distributed energy resources on their systems. 

By Peter Maloney • July 5, 2016

Westar, Great Plains says merger could save customers $200M annually

The two utilities filed for approval of their merger last week at the Kansas Corporation Commission and hope to close the deal by spring 2017. 

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2016

Solar on track to break growth records, but analysts say market challenges loom

A coming glut of solar modules will likely mean lower revenues for manufacturers, analysts note, but could end up driving installation prices even lower.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 30, 2016

New commissioner in tow, Hawaii PUC set to decide NextEra-HEI merger next week

Gov. David Ige intended to wait until a merger decision had been issued, but said he couldn't delay any longer in announcing Thomas Gorak to replace Commissioner Michael Champley on the Hawaii PUC.

By Krysti Shallenberger • June 30, 2016

Tesla begins monetizing Nevada tax credits with $20M sale to MGM casinos

The sale allows the battery company to generate cash from the credits, which MGM uses to pay state gambling fees. 

By Peter Maloney • June 30, 2016

After Diablo Canyon: PG&E CEO Tony Earley on renewables, DERs and California's energy future

The same resources pushing the giant nuclear plant offline will be key to the utility's future in a low carbon economy. 

By Gavin Bade • June 30, 2016

Report: NextEra top contender for Oncor bid

At least seven companies are eyeing a bid for Oncor, according to Bloomberg News. Media reports indicate a deal could be reached as early as next month.

By Robert Walton • June 29, 2016

California PUC approves gas rate hike for California utilities and SoCalGas

Most of the revenue will go towards bolstering the PG&E's gas distribution network. Meanwhile, the CPUC set aside monies for Southern California Gas Company to improve its underground storage facilities in the wake of the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak. 

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2016

Hawaiian Electric partners with Stem to help 250 public schools manage electric demand

Efficiency partnerships are likely to be crucial for HECO as it strives to meet the state's 100% renewable energy mandate by 2045.

By Gavin Bade • June 28, 2016

BMW to deploy used EV batteries in residential storage market

BMW announced plans to work toward deploying used EV batteries in the residential storage market.

By Peter Maloney • June 27, 2016

The DER pivot: Grid Edge Forum illustrates utility shift toward a distributed grid

Momentum is gathering behind a utility sector turn to distributed energy resources, attendees at the annual conference said this week. 

By Herman K. Trabish • June 23, 2016