Transmission & Distribution: Page 39
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Transmission, local resources, market improvements key to decarbonization: CAISO and NYISO chiefs
Adding new transmission in a timely manner will require a suite of policy improvements, says Jonathan Weisgall, vice president for legislative and regulatory affairs at Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 10, 2020 -
In this Congress or the next, experts see opportunity to boost electric investment and secure the grid
The tight balance of power in both the House and Senate means any action must be bipartisan. Questions about spending will need to be addressed.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 9, 2020 -
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 -
Dive Awards
Regulator of the Year: Neil Chatterjee, FERC
It's hard to imagine an agency that has had more effect on the power sector this year than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and it's impossible to divorce that impact from its now-former chairman: Neil Chatterjee.
By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020 -
Dive Awards
The Utility Dive Awards for 2020
The winners exemplified leadership in a time of crisis by working toward economic means of transitioning the power sector.
By Utility Dive Team • Dec. 9, 2020 -
'Very small silver lining' of COVID-19? An extra 2.5 years to reduce power sector emissions: report
BloombergNEF's New Energy Outlook shows the gas sector will never fully recover from the economic downturn in 2020.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Dec. 8, 2020 -
Are utilities legally required to plan for climate change? 'The devil is in the details.'
Utilities could be on the hook for damages related to climate change, according to a new report from the Environmental Defense Fund.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 8, 2020 -
Enbridge clears final regulatory hurdle for $2.6B Minnesota pipeline project
The 340-mile-long Line 3 project cleared its final regulatory hurdle Monday when Minnesota regulators approved its construction stormwater permit.
By Jennifer Goodman • Dec. 2, 2020 -
NERC expands IT-focused cybersecurity program as hackers actively target grid operations tech
Previously focused on the IT-side of utility operations, the Cybersecurity Risk Information Sharing Program will now include two pilots scanning for threats to operational technologies.
By Robert Walton • Dec. 2, 2020 -
Deep Dive
From Maryland to California and beyond, rate design innovations are boosting the energy transition
Success with time-of-use rates can allow utilities to start integrating more variable and distributed generation, leading to more sophisticated time-varying rates that allow for the further expansion of such generation.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 25, 2020 -
ConEd faces $102M penalty, possible license revocation for Hurricane Isaias response
Some customers were without power for about a week following the storm, and an expedited investigation concluded utilities failed to follow regulator-ordered emergency response plans.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 24, 2020 -
NERC: Pandemic, regional fuel shortages threaten winter grid operations in California, New England
Grid operators must prepare to mitigate potential fuel shortages in the colder months while prioritizing worker safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corp.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 23, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Why capital markets are continuing to finance utilities facing rising flood and other climate change impacts
In a sample of 18 utility disclosures on climate risks analyzed by Utility Dive, 13 stated flooding and heavy storms were a short-to-mid term threat.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 20, 2020 -
FERC proposes transmission rating reform, upholds PURPA, ISO-NE orders
Line ratings are considered a "tool stuck in limbo" by transmission experts that could help renewables waiting in long interconnection queues connect to the grid, while improving the overall efficiency of transmission lines.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 20, 2020 -
Calculating the costs of climate change in the energy, waste sectors
Waste Dive, Utility Dive and Smart Cities Dive teamed up for a series presenting the way their sectors are evaluating the impacts and costs of mitigating climate change.
By Nami Sumida • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Climate risks are accelerating. Here's what Duke, PG&E and 16 other utilities expect to pay.
Utility Dive took a closer look at how climate risks are threatening utilities — and how much it's going to cost to mitigate them.
By Utility Dive Editors • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Glick vows to prioritize transmission, reassess capacity markets if named FERC Chair
Commissioner Richard Glick, a frontrunner for FERC chair under Biden, has opposed many of the commission's actions in recent years, particularly those he believes directly impeding state resource decisions.
By Catherine Morehouse • Nov. 18, 2020 -
Tri-State accelerates Colorado decarbonization, weighs joining Southwest Power Pool expansion
The transmission and generation cooperative will file a plan Dec. 1 to reduce emissions associated with its wholesale electricity sales in Colorado 80% by 2030, surpassing its previous 70% goal.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 16, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Transmission troubles? A solution could be lying along rail lines and next generation highways
Multiple studies show the need for interregional transmission is growing and proposals to streamline siting will help, but cost allocation remains a barrier.
By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 12, 2020 -
Did Evergy reject a $15B bid from NextEra? Maybe — but not recently.
Reuters, citing anonymous sources, reported on Monday that NextEra made a bid to acquire Kansas-based Evergy and the offer was recently rejected. The two utilities had been in talks, but that process was terminated months ago.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2020 -
As EV infrastructure expands, researchers show charging stations vulnerable to low-cost hacking
The Southwest Research Institute was able to perform three manipulations to the most common EV charging equipment: limiting charge rates, blocking a vehicle from charging, and overcharging its battery.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 11, 2020 -
Deep Dive
Could COVID-19 provide a windfall to utilities from shifting demand? Report says yes, but it's complicated
The global pandemic's impact on energy consumption is still being investigated, but a Tufts University researcher expects utilities could benefit financially. Edison Electric Institute disputes the report's conclusions.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 10, 2020 -
ISO-NE commits to address regional energy security challenges as FERC rejects proposal
Federal regulators said the grid operator's proposal would "impose substantial costs on consumers without meaningfully improving fuel security." Utility opponents put the price at up to $257 million a year.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 9, 2020 -
Dominion claims it's 3rd largest utility owner of solar, continues clean energy transition in Virginia
The utility divested some of its natural gas transmission assets and announced the addition of 500 MW of solar earlier this week.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 9, 2020 -
Larger, vertically-integrated utilities better prepared to face cyber threats, says Moody's
Smaller, publicly-owned utilities are leaning on cybsersecurity insurance to mitigate risk, according to the ratings agency.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2020 -
In split vote, Arizona regulators take major step toward 100% carbon-free mandate for utilities
The plan includes an interim renewables target and a battery standard with a carve-out for distributed resources, but could be upended by election outcomes as three commission seats are up for grabs.
By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2020