How rate reform can help turn energy efficiency into a 'profit center' for utilities

Traditional ratemaking makes energy efficiency a burden to utilities, but smart regulation can create opportunities for both revenue growth and power conservation.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 2016

Texas co-op signs deal for 15 MW of distributed community solar

 Pedernales Electric Cooperative will contract for power from 998 kW customer sited-arrays and sell to individual solar buyers.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 27, 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

Power sector poised for an earnings letdown in Q1?

SNL Energy reports Wall Street is anticipating lower earnings from the power sector as companies deal with the impacts of a mild winter and low commodity prices.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2016

Community Storage Initiative touts diverse backers, including EEI, NRECA, APPA

The group is calling for more information sharing and collaborative development of distributed storage solutions.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016

Sierra Club files to stop retrofit of Arizona Public Service gas plant

The environmental group says the way the utility plans to use the new generators would produce about as much carbon dioxide pollution as a coal plant. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 26, 2016

Tesla unveils pricing details for Powerpack system

Tesla unveils pricing and online ordering details for its Powerpack commercial and utility scale battery.

By Peter Maloney • April 25, 2016

Lockheed Martin pushes into storage market with lithium, flow battery offerings

The aerospace and defense giant is targeting utilities and C&I customers for its lithium option while trying to commercialize flow batteries for long-duration uses.

By Peter Maloney • April 25, 2016

Arizona utilities back initiative to counter SolarCity-supported ballot proposal

Days after solar advocates announced a ballot proposal to protect net metering in Arizona, a state lawmaker has a competing proposal she says has the support of the state's regulated utilities. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

ComEd touts new solar incentives in Illinois legislative push

The utility has a slate of proposals in front of state lawmakers and on Friday, announced new rebates for solar customers to accompany proposed rate changes.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 25, 2016

Report: Big US utilities shelled out $400M in political spending

Litigation and political donations highlight how utilities are "digging in their heels" when it comes to the changing business landscape, according to Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute Executive Director Jon Lukomnik.

By Robert Walton • April 25, 2016

Weaker winds slowed wind energy output growth in 2015

The 5.1% increase in wind energy output last year was the smallest since 1999, EIA reports, thanks to slow wind speeds in the West.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 22, 2016

Feds move offshore wind lease areas from North to South Carolina

The shift came after North Carolina officials raised concerns about wind projects' effects on ocean views and whale habitat. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 22, 2016

SunEdison files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

SunEdison announced its intention to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection today, throwing doubt on the future of its partnerships and projects. 

By Krysti Shallenberger • April 21, 2016

Declining prices, stable outlook drive utilities, large companies to wind power

Natural gas is the new power sector leader, but utilities are increasingly looking to renewables, especially wind, as a hedge against long-term gas price volatility and future environmental regulations.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 21, 2016

SolarCity ends support for watchdog group investigating Arizona regulators

The watchdog group Checks and Balances project had sought to expose communications between Arizona regulators, utility executives, and members of an outside political group. 

By Herman Trabish, Gavin Bade • April 21, 2016

Citing favorable policy climate, Sunrun expands operations in South Carolina

Solar supports put in place by 2014's Act 236 made the South Carolina decision an easy one, company officials said. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

Former ACC chair leads push for Arizona ballot measure to protect solar

A new constitutional amendment pushed by solar installers would preserve retail rate net metering and prevent solar-specific rate changes through 2022.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 20, 2016

Green groups sue Duke Energy for Clean Water Act violations from coal ash

The Roanoke River Basin Association and the Southern Environmental Law Center announced last Monday that they will sue Duke Energy for violations of the federal Clean Water Act at its Mayo Steam plant. 

By Shalina Chatlani • April 20, 2016

3 Canadian munis propose merger, following consolidation trend in North America

Canadian municipal utilities Enersource, Horizon Utilities and PowerStream want to merge, following a consolidation trend in North American utilities. 

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

Hunt requests rehearing for Oncor deal

Stipulations for Hunt Consolidated's plan to purchase Oncor out of bankruptcy could sour the deal, the company told regulators this week.

By Robert Walton • April 20, 2016

AES teams up with Panasonic for India's first utility-scale storage project

AES Storage and Panasonic are building a 10-MW storage facility in Haryana, India.

By Peter Maloney • April 19, 2016

SEIA President Rhone Resch steps down after 12 years

The national trade group for solar companies grew from 65 members to more than 1,000 under Resch's leadership.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 19, 2016

Hawaiian Electric, Hawaii Gas cancel LNG import terminal agreement

Hawaiian Electric wants to import gas as a cheaper alternative to fuel oil, but critics call it a distraction from efforts to get to 100% renewables. 

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Will LA's historic gas leak knock Hollywood's lights out this summer?

California's energy agencies are pushing a slew of measures to compensate for the Aliso Canyon gas leak, but the larger issue of the state's natural gas reliance remains.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 18, 2016

Concerns over Oncor deal linger as Texas teacher pension fund mulls investment in bid

The Teacher Retirement System of Texas intends to invest $250 million into Oncor's new Real Estate Investment Trust structure, but lawmakers question the wisdom of the move. 

By Robert Walton • April 15, 2016