Innovation with GIS mobility: Unraveling utility process issues

Mobile GIS is one of the technologies that can create positive change and ignite innovation while shredding the paper processes.

By Bill Meehan, Esri • July 10, 2023

ISO New England called energy emergency, turned to operating reserves after transmission failure

The region faced a brief capacity shortage beginning around 6 p.m. Wednesday, and the grid operator utilized its 30-minute reserves to meet demand that was higher than anticipated.

By Robert Walton • July 7, 2023

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

Roughly $7B federal loan could offer PG&E ‘cheap money’ to upgrade electric grid in California

If approved, the loan would fund projects related to resiliency, building and vehicle electrification and distributed energy resources, according to a utility spokesperson. 

By Kavya Balaraman • July 6, 2023

Training wheels for DERMS

Utilities—on the road to DERMS, start with a conservative approach.

July 3, 2023

As Texas sweats, its electric grid has remained stable, in part due to renewables

The Public Utility Commission of Texas continues to develop a new dispatchable reliability reserve service and approved an 83% pay raise for the board of the state’s grid operator on June 29.

By Robert Walton • June 30, 2023

Most US regions get D+ or below for transmission planning, development: benchmark report

The Southeast received a failing grade while the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Northwest, Southwest and Texas regions got D-range grades in a benchmark report from Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.

By Ethan Howland • June 29, 2023

When it comes to transmission, customers must come first

The key to grid planning is first to acknowledge the central role states play so that transmission is built according to customer need, not arbitrary mandates.

By Tony Clark • June 26, 2023

Arizona Public Service reaches settlement with ACC, will raise rates to recover Four Corners investment

The utility will also be allowed to earn a higher return on equity after a court determined regulators overstepped their authority in lowering the ROE to punish the utility for customer service issues. 

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2023

Gas-fired capacity surges this year, solar poised to boom: FERC report

About 113,700 MW of solar, wind and gas-fired generation is highly likely to start operating by April 2026 but could be offset by about 44,100 MW of power plant retirements, according to the report.

By Ethan Howland • June 23, 2023

Conventional generation outages set a record in 2022: NERC

The performance of wind and solar resources must also improve, NERC said, particularly as they place “increased operational demands on the now smaller fleet of conventional generation.”

By Robert Walton • June 23, 2023

Grassroots buy-in will be vital to transmission buildout, say clean energy experts

Though Congress left transmission reform out of the recent debt ceiling deal, constituent pressure could impact future legislation, says DSD Renewables Head of Policy Pari Kasotia.

By Diana DiGangi • June 22, 2023

Four non-transmission solutions for clean energy with new power lines in the permitting ‘Valley of Death’

Smart technologies, storage, overbuilding and distributed resources can move the energy transition ahead until workable reforms bring new transmission online, stakeholders agreed

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2023

Nevada revamps IRP process, opens path for NV Energy to own more renewables and storage

A new law allows NV Energy to propose a planning scenario to state regulators in which it owns a “significant share” of new renewable energy generation and energy storage.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2023

NYISO picks $3.3B transmission project to deliver 3,000 MW of offshore wind power from Long Island

The transmission project is a “critical step forward as the state works to meet its ambitious climate mandates,” said Rich Dewey, NYISO’s president and CEO.

By Stephen Singer • June 21, 2023

Northeastern states seek DOE support for transmission collaborative across three regions

“Rather than wait for new regulatory mandates to spur action, we can collectively take steps now to consider expanding ties between our regions,” the states told DOE. 

By Ethan Howland • June 20, 2023

Duke Energy changed security reviews of critical assets following December substation attacks

Information-sharing protocols between the public and private sector need to be improved, a North Carolina safety official told the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2023

ERCOT expects record peak demand Wednesday as Texas regulators continue work on reliability standard

 The grid operator for most of Texas anticipates sufficient resources as it forecasts demand near 83 GW on June 21, but observers note coal and gas plant outages are higher than anticipated.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2023

How the debt ceiling bill’s permitting deal hurt the outlook for deeper reforms, transmission legislation

With prospects for legislation reduced, the focus on transmission turns to FERC. Acting Chairman Willie Phillips aims to issue final interconnection reforms soon and will push for increased transfer capacity between regions.

By Ethan Howland • June 14, 2023

More regional transfer capacity is key to mitigating grid reliability risks: ACORE panel

Ensuring that electricity markets properly value demand response is also an important approach, experts said at a discussion hosted by the American Council on Renewable Energy.

By Robert Walton • June 14, 2023

California could see far lower costs to prepare grid for electrification than prior estimate, state research finds

Preliminary research from California’s Public Advocates Office estimates the costs at up to $20 billion by 2035, compared with $50 billion projected by Kevala, in part because of different forecasts on EV charging. 

By Kavya Balaraman • June 13, 2023

Accelerate the US high-capacity transmission build-out with voluntary, strategic co-location

Designing a transmission route based on unmet needs for rural broadband connectivity will create incentives for landowners to welcome high-capacity transmission lines.

By Robin Allen • June 13, 2023

Puerto Rico utility debt plan could saddle residents with unaffordable power bills for decades, groups warn

The bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority has more than $9 billion in legacy debt obligations, and experts fear a proposed repayment plan will drive customers off the grid and away from the island.

By Robert Walton • June 12, 2023

As states differ on the benefits of Bitcoin, is there a solution to its climate and power-system impacts?

Bitcoin miners’ 24/7 electricity need and financial focus raise red flags for climate activists about increased fossil fuel use, but some miners are starting to see a new solution in clean energy.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 8, 2023

FERC’s backstop siting authority: Why considering emissions, EJ will get transmission built

Powerful actors have attacked the agency’s authority to consider air pollution and environmental justice when siting transmission lines. These skeptics are wrong on the law, the author writes.

By Matt Lifson • June 8, 2023

Industrial groups urge FERC to reject incentives for $280M in NIPSCO transmission projects

A request by an LS Power subsidiary for more limited incentives shows NIPSCO’s proposal is unjust, the groups told FERC Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • June 8, 2023