2023 Outlook: US power sector trends to watch

Federal, state and corporate actions are boosting clean energy in the U.S., but supply chain and economic challenges persist while grid reliability and security concerns are growing.

By The Utility Dive Team • Jan. 13, 2023

Texas PUC nears market redesign decision amid criticism performance credit will not spur new generation

“It's primarily an incentive to retain existing dispatchable generation,” E3 Director Zack Ming said. E3 modeled the performance credit mechanism for Texas regulators to consider.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 13, 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

FERC approves PacifiCorp’s proposed interconnection process for replacing retired generation

The agency dismissed concerns the proposal would give PacifiCorp an unfair advantage in grid access.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 11, 2023

DOE proposes new efficiency rules for distribution transformers, potentially saving consumers $15B

Because so much electricity passes through transformers, experts say that even small efficiency improvements can significantly reduce emissions and create savings.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2023

Duke Energy apologizes for winter storm outages as FERC, NERC open investigation into grid failures

At the peak of Winter Storm Elliott, 1.7 million customers were without power. Federal power officials say it is the fifth major winter event in the last 11 years.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 4, 2023

Utilities sound alarm over distribution transformer shortage as procurement times surpass 1 year and costs triple

Shortages of materials, labor and production capacity are beginning to hold back electrification projects and threaten grid reliability, the electric sector warned.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 19, 2022

Most of US electric grid faces risk of resource shortfall through 2027, NERC finds

“We are living in extraordinary times, from an electric industry perspective,” said John Moura, NERC’s director of reliability assessment and performance analysis.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 16, 2022

Cost concerns could blunt ‘promising’ utility trends on energy storage, smart meters, EVs: Deloitte

“Supply chain snags, rising costs and extreme weather are likely to continue plaguing the power sector,” the consulting firm said in a report.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 14, 2022

The ‘unprecedented’ risks facing our power grid this winter should be a wake-up call for government

It’s imperative the Biden administration nominates a FERC commissioner who can set our power grid up for success by prioritizing its safety, reliability and affordability.

By Todd Snitchler • Dec. 14, 2022

E3 defends Texas market analysis as early comments on reliability proposals turn negative

The E3 report “is too deeply flawed to be trusted to guide reliability and market decisions of this import,” according to independent energy analyst Alison Silverstein.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 14, 2022

Alternative Transmission plans $6B, 2.1-GW undersea power line between Puerto Rico, US East Coast

The project would cut the cost of power in Puerto Rico by more than half, provide reliable electricity and help the island meet its clean energy goals, Adam Rousselle, ATI president, said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 14, 2022

Transmission as a reliability and affordability strategy drives CAISO and SPP regional market ambitions

Benefits of real-time markets are clear, demand for day-ahead markets is growing and advocates foresee full RTOs coming that could cross seams between East and West interconnections

By Herman K. Trabish • Dec. 12, 2022

Top 5 challenges facing distribution utilities in 2023

In interviews with more than 30 utility leaders from organizations large and small, five challenges stood out as most top-of-mind for utilities across the United States.

Dec. 12, 2022

Manchin calls for Senate vote on permitting reform, warns of billions of dollars stranded without it

Sen. Joe Manchin wants permitting reform — including completion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline — included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. “We're trying everything humanly possible,” he said.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2022

GE, LineVision form partnership to offer grid-enhancing technologies to boost existing transmission

"These technologies represent a new model of grid infrastructure investment which will accelerate the transition to a net zero grid," LineVision CEO Hudson Gilmer said Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 7, 2022

On-peak wholesale power prices this winter expected to be more than 60% higher in some regions, EIA warns

Extreme cold or fuel supply problems could drive prices “significantly higher than forecast,” according to EIA’s December Short Term Energy Outlook.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 7, 2022

FERC urged to set interregional transfer capacity requirements to boost reliability, lower costs

Some panelists at an agency workshop were cautious. “We're not seeing a specific minimum interregional transmission capacity necessarily helping,” CAISO’s Neil Miller said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 6, 2022

10 must-read utility sector stories from 2022

Reliability, security and affordability concerns are rising in a U.S. power sector increasingly focused on decarbonization and electrification. Utility Dive has rounded up some of our top stories so far on these and other trends in 2022.

By Larry Pearl • Dec. 5, 2022

California requires permits for large natural gas projects to enable environmental and cost scrutiny

A first-ever order holds investor-owned utility pipelines and other projects to the same standard as big electricity proposals.

By Elizabeth McCarthy • Dec. 5, 2022

ISO-New England says power system is prepared for mild winter, but plans would change in a cold snap

New England’s power system is prepared for a mild winter, but more fuel delivery or public conservation would be called for in severely cold weather, the grid operator said.

By Stephen Singer • Dec. 5, 2022

Federal appeals court orders FERC to rework MISO interconnection funding decision

The federal agency failed to adequately respond to concerns transmission owners might discriminate in favor of their own generating plants, the D.C. circuit appeals court said.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 5, 2022

Texas lawmakers want to hit brakes on electricity market redesign, bring dispatchable generation online sooner

Market reforms under consideration by the Public Utility Commission of Texas “should not be adopted” without further direction from the Legislature, said a group of 9 senators.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2022

FERC approves PJM’s ‘first-ready, first-served’ interconnection reform plan, steps to clear backlog

FERC Commissioner Allison Clements, who said she reluctantly voted in favor of PJM’s plan, called for additional measures to improve the interconnection process.

By Ethan Howland • Dec. 1, 2022

SPP unveils details of proposed Western energy market, phased implementation plan

Plans for the Southwest Power Pool’s Western day-ahead and real-time markets have been in the works for about a year.

By Robert Walton • Dec. 1, 2022

Texas grid vulnerable to blackouts in extreme scenarios, ERCOT says as it adds storage to assessment

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas included battery storage for the first time in its winter resource assessment. Population growth and economic expansion are driving Texas electricity demand higher.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2022