Of monopolies and monopolies: Cost of service 'markets' abound

The Restructured Administrative Market Model is having a "tough go," attorneys Ray Gifford and Matt Larson write, noting that central planning is its core tenet, as with traditional monopoly service providers.

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • March 28, 2018

Kentucky utilities push back on state-ordered rate reductions

The Kentucky Public Service Commission last week ordered Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities to cut rates in response to the lower corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 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

Xcel nuclear cost recovery bill advances in Minnesota despite governor opposing

The company operates three nuclear reactors in the state and will need to invest more than $1.4 billion to maintain them over the next two decades.

By Robert Walton • March 28, 2018

Bomb cyclone showed coal retirements could raise risks for grid, DOE says

DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory examines the role of fossil fuels during the bomb cyclone and sees risks to grid resilience and reliability from the loss of coal capacity.

By Peter Maloney • March 28, 2018

EPA plan to bar studies without public data could disrupt clean air regulations

The policy change could have significant implications for the Trump administration's efforts to rewrite the Clean Power Plan and air quality standards. 

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2018

Proposed Texas rule highlights storage's challenges in bridging competitive, regulated energy markets

Energy storage’s unique characteristics make it a difficult fit on the regulated side of Texas’ power market.

By Peter Maloney • March 27, 2018

Connecticut legislature poised to act as community solar collides with net metering

Connecticut’s utilities object to a new community solar policy while its advocates say proposed utility changes to net metering are unacceptable.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 27, 2018

Smart transmission: How FERC can spur modernization of the bulk power system

Transmission technology vendors say their products could save electricity consumers billions — if utilities were incentivized to invest.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 26, 2018

Update: Arizona Gov. Ducey signs bill to undermine RPS ballot proposal

The measure will minimize financial penalties for utilities that fail to meet renewable energy targets, muting a ballot proposal pushing 50% renewable energy by 2030. 

By Robert Walton • March 23, 2018

FERC among targets of Iranian hackers charged by DOJ

Nine Iranian nationals stole data from hundreds of universities and dozens of companies across the globe as well as five U.S. government agencies, the Justice Department said in an indictment Friday.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018

Energy groups see $1.3 trillion omnibus as repudiation of Trump priorities

The budget bill, approved by the House and Senate on Thursday, would boost clean energy funding at DOE and increase appropriations for co-ops to expand rural broadband service.

By Gavin Bade • March 23, 2018

On the duck's 10th birthday, here's how to keep it from eating the power system

Before anybody saw how fast solar would grow, researchers described what it would do to the grid and started working on solutions now being implemented.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 22, 2018

Omnibus spending bill rejects Trump EPA, DOE cuts

EPA spending would remain stable under a Congressional budget bill released Wednesday night, while DOE clean energy funding would increase by nearly $1.5 billion.

By Gavin Bade • March 22, 2018

Wind and solar costs continue to drop below fossil fuels. What barriers remain for a low-carbon grid?

Energy Innovation's Michael O'Boyle and Silvio Marcacci outline the barriers to high-penetration wind and solar in the least-cost era.

By Michael O'Boyle, Silvio Marcacci • March 21, 2018

Perry: DOE budget cuts don't mean a 'reduction in results'

The Secretary of Energy could not find a bad thing to say about programs his budget seeks to eliminate during an appearance before a Senate committee Tuesday.

By Gavin Bade • March 21, 2018

Nearly 1/3 of planned gas peakers at risk from energy storage, GTM finds

While it could take a while to compete with existing peakers, storage costs are dropping at a rate that could start making it competitive with new peaking plants in about five years.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

New business models may be the next frontier in lower energy storage costs

Often overlooked in discussions about the declining price of energy storage are business models that aim to lower capital expenses.

By Peter Maloney • March 20, 2018

CEC: California EV chargers will add 1 GW of peak demand by 2025

A new report from the California Energy Commission also details the "Dragon Curve" — expected electricity demand effects of electric vehicle growth. 

By Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018

California's dream of a regional power market faces the risks of a Trump FERC

California's proposed regional electricity market could could generate up to $1.5 billion in annual benefits and reduce GHG emissions up to 10%, but it could be subverted.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 20, 2018

Multiple concerns drive MISO, utilities to seek rehearing on FERC storage order

Some utilities say FERC overstepped its jurisdiction by mandating that distribution-connected storage be able to provide both retail and wholesale services.

By Robert Walton , Gavin Bade • March 20, 2018

UPDATED: FERC provides 30 more days to submit comments to resilience docket

Resilience filings from each U.S. grid operator will take time to respond to, energy trade groups said, and fall at an "unusually busy time in the Commission’s calendar."

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

NERC names WECC head Robb as new CEO

Robb's appointment comes after the high-profile resignation of NERC's last CEO following an office sex scandal and family violence arrest. 

By Gavin Bade • March 19, 2018

A complicated calculus keeps the remaining coal fleet alive

The U.S. coal fleet is half the size it was 10 years ago. How are the remaining plants hanging on?

By Peter Maloney • March 19, 2018

FERC moves to ensure utility tax savings get passed on to customers

The agency wants to build a body of work showing the impact of the tax overhaul bill passed into law last December.

By Krysti Shallenberger • March 15, 2018

In the New South, customer demand is showing utilities the dollars and sense in solar

With load flat to declining, utilities in the Southeast are investing in almost no new generation but can't resist customer demand for renewables and the new solar economics.

By Herman K. Trabish • March 15, 2018