In SolarCity's 'new paradigm' for distribution planning, DERs come first

Top solar installer calls for new distribution system planning with priority on distributed resources.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2015

California regulators propose framework to put a value on DERs

Establishing value appears to be the first step to creating a distributed energy marketplace.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 18, 2015

Explore the Trendline➔

Grid Resiliency

Utilities and grid operators are facing increasing threats from climate change as well as cyber and physical attacks, and are deploying a variety of responses to meet the rising challenges.

By Utility Dive staff

CEO of nation's largest municipal utility will resign

CPS Energy President and CEO Doyle Beneby has announced he will step down from his post at the San Antonio, Texas, municipal utility.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2015

Industry group outlines radical new vision for California's power economy

Advanced Energy Economy Institute has released a position paper developed with a broad range of stakeholders showing how new technologies can transform the grid.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 12, 2015

Duquesne Light seeks more time to comply with new consumer rules

The utility's new customer service platform is strained and further speeding customer requests to switch power providers is not possible right now, according to Duquesne.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 10, 2015

PPL: Reliability efforts avoided almost 200,000 outages so far this year

On average, the utility said customers are experiencing 20% fewer outages than they did in 2007.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 7, 2015

Entergy: Industrial sales decline, but new growth on the way

Billed volumes declined, but the integrated energy company said new industrial and expansion projects which came online last quarter will help boost demand.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2015

Tres Amigas developer: SPS pullout of deal 'not that significant'

The proposed $1.6B plan to link the three U.S. grids still has legs, its devloper says.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 5, 2015

NextEra to buy 7 Texas gas pipelines for over $2B in NET Midstream acquisition

NextEra said the deal, with privately-held NET Midstream, would provide attractive yields and complements the company's existing renewable portfolio.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 5, 2015

Report: Storage boom to rival solar as battery prices drop 40-60% by 2020

Falling battery storage prices will open up a wide range of options for consumers, but the new technology comes with its own set of risk and rewards.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

12 co-ops complete 'unprecedented' purchase of Alliant distribution assets

In a deal being touted for its size, a group of cooperatives in Minnesota has purchased Alliant's assets, expanding their membership by about 43,000 customers.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

PG&E, BMW get electric vehicle demand response program rolling

The BMW iChargeForward program provides more than $1,500 in incentives for customers who allow Pacific Gas & Electric to control their electric vehicle charging.  

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2015

Senate energy bill set for a floor fight after bipartisan support in committee

Energy committee leaders think they've put together a package that can pass both houses, but a contentious floor fight could doom the first broad energy bill in almost a decade.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 4, 2015

Moody's: Hunt plan to take over Oncor carries risk for shareholders

Hunt Consolidated wants to purchase Oncor and place it in a real estate trust, which the credit agency warned could create regulatory issues and risks for investors.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 3, 2015

Key Tres Amigas partners pull out, leaving national interconnect in doubt

Xcel Energy subsidiary SPS is getting out of the project, leaving Tres Amigas without an Eastern link.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 31, 2015

Inside New York's aggressive new community shared renewables program

A carefully crafted program will allow buy-in for those without solar-suitable roofs, from the crowded boroughs of Manhattan to the shady lanes upstate.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 30, 2015

Senate leaders introduce first broad, bipartisan energy bill since 2007

The bill calls for more energy efficiency, modernizing the nation's electric system, diversifying resource supply and reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2015

Report: Wait times for rooftop solar interconnection jumped 68% 2013-2014

And as more regulations govern distributed resources, the time needed to interconnect systems will likely increase, absent rules to streamline the process.  

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2015

Assessing the costs and benefits of distributed energy to the grid of the future

The Electric Power Research Institute is working to perfect a method to calculate distribute energy’s costs and benefits for all stakeholders.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 23, 2015

For top utilities, customer satisfaction hinges on empowerment

It's not enough to provide reliable, affordable power anymore. If you want satisfied customers, you've got to provide them with timely, actionable information.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2015

Cost overruns in SPP transmission projects draw ire of RTO's leaders

Over 85% of projects in SPP’s current pipeline have cost estimates that are inaccurate by 30% or more.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 22, 2015

FERC looks to address new cyber threats in updated reliability standards

The nation's electric supply is more vulnerable to hacking than many realize, and federal regulators are rushing to close gaps in security.

By Robert Walton • July 21, 2015

Inside Hawaii's landmark regulatory proceeding to value distributed resources

Phase 1 of the tumultuous proceeding has brought only 'general disagreement' among stakeholders.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 21, 2015

The Transportation Grid: How utilities can drive the future of transport

In this guest post, Patty Monahan and Dan Adler lay out a blueprint for utility leadership in electric transportation.

By Patty Monahan and Dan Adler • July 20, 2015

MDU proposal for 21% rate jump, new solar fees faces close scrutiny

Solar advocates say changes to the utility's net metering rules could stifle renewables growth.

By Robert Walton • July 20, 2015