NSA: Foreign hackers could crash utility systems

About 40% of cyberattacks across all critical infrastructure sectors were in the energy sector, NSA says.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

NERC: Resources adequate for winter, worries remain on extreme cold

Periods of extreme cold would stress the power grid, however.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 25, 2014

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Wind power saved Southwest Power Pool ratepayers $1.2B in 2013

Saving came from eliminating fossil fuel costs, reducing water use, and avoiding pollution.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2014

Solar and wind beat the price of coal and gas in many markets

Renewables have integration costs and but new analysis from Lazard shows their megawatt hour cost can be lower than fossil fuels.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 24, 2014

PJM prices hit November record in cold snap

The first real blast of winter air has PJM worried about the months ahead.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2014

SolarCity partners with HECO to study solutions to solar problems

The collaboration could signal a new paradigm in cooperation between solar installers and utilities.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 20, 2014

How the U.S. will get a third of its energy from wind by midcentury

A new study sets big targets, but the wind industry beat DOE’s projections many called “unachievable."

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 20, 2014

HECO wants to make your water heater a grid resource

Hawaiian Electric thinks the energy stored in water heaters can help it deal with high solar penetration.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2014

How solar owners can be 'good citizens of the grid'

Smart technologies and smart attitudes can make the grid more reliable, even with lots of solar.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 19, 2014

Puerto Rico's electric utility owed $1.75 billion

The utility has stopped reporting delinquent customers to collections agencies.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2014

DiG Deeper into your Customer Data

Sponsored by:   Intelen   According to recent forecasts, $13.5 million is expected to be spent by utilities worldwide on gamification tools, innovative applications and other customer-centric services by 2014, rising to $65 million in 2016. It is also predicted that ...

By Davide Savenije • Nov. 18, 2014

Feds approve first offshore wind transmission line

National Grid will build and pay for the $75 million Block Island connection.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 17, 2014

Breaking down FERC's recent, and pending, ROE decisions

Transmission owners in the MISO region have filed for rehearing asking FERC to reject a review of its return on equity rates.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 17, 2014

How the most efficient states convince utilities to conserve energy

Utility policy that recognizes efficiency as a resource is key to improving overall sustainability, new research finds.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2014

PJM CEO: The grid is ready for this winter, preparing for 2016

Pending plant closures could make the 2015-2016 winter a challenge.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2014

Oklahoma utilities struggle to meet oil & gas industry demand

The state has some 2,600 MW of distributed resources not connected to the grid.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2014

FERC significantly expands Southwest Power Pool

The decision will expand customer access to organized markets, federal regulators say.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2014

NERC: Declining reserve margins tax grid reliability

Uncertain of environmental rules and changes in the resource mix are also challenging the industry.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 14, 2014

Big storage procurements leave more questions than answers

If storage is such a good idea, why is SoCal Edison buying so much natural gas?

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2014

How America ranks first in wind energy—even with less capacity than China

U.S. wind’s smaller fleet generates over 20% more electricity than Chinese wind.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2014

AEP plans nearly $5 billion transmission investment

American Electric Power Company increased its 2015 capital expenditure budget to $4.4 billion.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2014

Boulder levies extra electric charge on marijuana growers

Marijuana grow operations use a lot of power, so Boulder will charge them more for it.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2014

ISO-NE: Gas pipeline capacity top concern for next decade

The newest Regional System Plan predicts gas supply shortages on 24 or more days every winter.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 11, 2014

Oncor to propose $5.2B, 3-5 GW energy storage plan

The plan reportedly calls for more than $2B in grid-integrated battery storage.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2014

Study: Minnesota could handle 40% renewables without reliability issues

The report, conducted with MISO, has good news for other midwestern states as well.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2014