4 challenges the utility business faces today

Utility Dive analyzed utilities' second quarter earnings calls to see what they're doing about the some of the biggest common business problems facing the industry.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 26, 2013

Massive wildfire threatens San Francisco's power supply

San Francisco is facing possible blackouts and damage to its electrical infrastructure.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 26, 2013

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

Here's why utilities could lose $6B tonight

Solar storms can damage satellites and power grids, resulting in estimated potential losses of $3-$6 billion on the grid alone.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 23, 2013

One of America's deadliest jobs: Power line installation and repair

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows electrical power line work is the seventh deadliest job in the U.S.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 22, 2013

AEP, Dominion to upgrade West Va. transmission line

The utilities will spend more than $60 million updating the 500-kilovolt Lexington-Cloverdale line erected in 1966.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 22, 2013

PPL, PSE&G to build $1.3B Northeast power line

PSE&G and PPL will start construction on the 145-mile project to replace an 85-year-old power line.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 22, 2013

Ameren to embark on $1.1B transmission project

The project is Ameren’s largest single investment since the 1980s.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 22, 2013

22% of SoCal Edison utility poles are unsafe, study finds

Fires and blackouts from toppled poles drove Southern California Edison to investigate the utility’s poles. What the utility found was problematic.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 20, 2013

EIA graphics break down residential energy consumption in these 16 states

The Energy Information Administration has published data and graphs on 16 states' residential energy consumption.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 19, 2013

SMUD CEO Di Stasio to retire after 32 years

Di Stasio is leaving on a high note after having successfully deployed SMUD's smart grid project.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 19, 2013

ObamaGrid, EVs and the anti-smart meter movie: This week's most read utility news

If you missed the big headlines last week, here's what you need to know.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 16, 2013

Demand for renewables driving Europe's T&D market growth

The race to integrate renewables is causing Europe to dramatically revamp its transmission networks, according to a new report.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 16, 2013

National Grid to invest $1.6B in N.Y. grid

The utility’s 3-year spending plan will modernize and replace old assets.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 15, 2013

China, CTC Global to build next-gen transmission line

CTC's composite carbon-and-glass materials will make transmission lines lighter, more heat resistant and less prone to line loss than steel-core cables.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 15, 2013

Electric vehicle integration: 6 best practices for utilities

Southern California Edison is preparing for 350,000 EVs in its territory by 2020—are you?

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 14, 2013

Construction on Xcel’s $185M Texas-to-Oklahoma power line is now underway

The line will connect customers to cheaper power supplies outside the region and improve transmission reliability and capacity.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 14, 2013

Despite threats and gunshots, tree trimming prevents outages

Tree-trimming is working despite protestors' best efforts.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 13, 2013

Making the case for grid investment: 6 insights from the White House's new report

On Monday, the Executive Office of the President issued a report titled "Economic Benefits of Increasing Electric Grid Resilience to Weather Outages." Here's what you need to know.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 12, 2013

Grid more vulnerable, flexible 10 years after North America's largest blackout

In the years since, the grid has come under threat from new stressors, despite the fact that grid maintenance spending is at an all time high.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 12, 2013

Entergy, ITC Holdings withdraw merger application

Despite the move, the companies reportedly plan to refile the application with the Texas Public Utility Commission at a later date. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 9, 2013

Politicians hit brakes on move to kick Xcel out of Minneapolis

An exchange of letters between Xcel's Northern States Power Company - Minnesota CEO and Minneapolis' mayor resulted in a truce as the city and utility look to work together—at least for now. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 9, 2013

Smart meters and customer satisfaction: This week's most read utility news

Here's how you can get up caught on the most important and interesting stories in the utility industry. 

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 9, 2013

FERC slashes New England utilities' transmission returns

Earnings paid to electric transmission owners are too high and one FERC judge is out to change that.

By Malena Amusa • Aug. 8, 2013

ENBALA CEO: Real-time demand management is just much more effective

Utility Dive interviewed ENBALA Power Networks CEO Ron Dizy on the powerful alternative to traditional demand response.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 7, 2013

Customer engagement—the secret sauce to solving dissatisfaction?

Dive Insight: Awareness and participation are key to keeping utility customers satisfied, as these recent J.D. Power findings show.

By Davide Savenije • Aug. 6, 2013