Transmission & Distribution: Page 54
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Deborah Barrington/Utility Dive
Severe weather, cyber, physical attacks: DOE targets better utility, pipeline preparedness
The department is seeking information on "consensus-based codes, specifications, standards, and other forms of guidance," for improving the resilience of electric systems.
By Robert Walton • July 10, 2019 -
Wikimedia Commons
California Senate passes $21B wildfire fund legislation, as Newsom pushes for final vote Friday
Some customer advocates are concerned by the bill's accelerated passage, and say it weakens utility accountability.
By Robert Walton • July 9, 2019 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
TrendlineGrid 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 -
From Goldwind (used with permission)
Deep DiveSolar + wind + storage developers 'gearing up' as hybrid projects edge to market
A "wave" of new projects is coming to use wind, solar and battery storage in ways that will stabilize grids, increase efficiencies and lower power costs.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 9, 2019 -
Delta-Montrose files restraining order against Tri-State, as others examine buy out costs
The order seeks to restrain Tri-State Generation and Transmission's attempts to place itself under federal regulation, which members see as an attempt by the utility to avoid state oversight.
By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019 -
Getty Images
California tees up wildfire liability bill as utility, consumer groups diverge on solutions
AB 1054 would create a fund to help utilities pay for wildfire liability claims, if they're not responsible for sparking the blaze, but opponents say it strips away important protections.
By Robert Walton • July 3, 2019 -
Deep Dive
Diversifying the Northeast power mix: Is offshore wind + storage key to the region's reliability?
As more New England states roll out offshore wind mandates, bringing the technology to scale is a portfolio priority.
By Herman K. Trabish • July 2, 2019 -
Senate passes cybersecurity bill to decrease grid digitization, move toward manual control
Lawmakers suggest that moving toward "retro" technology on some strategic points could decrease vulnerabilities, inspired in part by a 2015 blackout in Ukraine.
By Robert Walton • July 1, 2019 -
Virginia regulators approve revised Dominion IRP, but warn about understated costs
Customer advocates called the State Corporation Commission's decision "unconscionable." The utility says warnings of higher bills tell "only part of the story."
By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019 -
Transitioning US to 100% renewables by 2030 will cost $4.5 trillion: Wood Mackenzie
Including existing nuclear plants would reduce the price by almost $500 billion, while other savings are possible with a longer time frame to allow for technological advancements, the consulting firm said.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • Updated July 1, 2019 -
Florida mandates 10-year storm protection plans for utilities, sparking cost concerns
A bill signed Thursday by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis could make it easier for utilities to underground power lines and pass those charges on to customers.
By Robert Walton • June 28, 2019 -
Massachusetts regulators approve state's largest clean energy procurement
The Department of Public Utilities approved long-term contracts for more than 9.5 million MWh of annual hydropower from Quebec.
By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019 -
CalFire: PG&E power lines sparked Tuesday blaze
The fire, now contained, burned more than 2,500 acres. Pacific Gas & Electric said is investigating what caused a power line to fall.
By Robert Walton • June 27, 2019 -
NERC CEO: Western RC transition is 'single largest risk of reliability in front of us'
Jim Robb said Wednesday that certifications will culminate in five separate reliability coordinators in the Western Interconnection around the start of 2020.
By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 27, 2019 -
PG&E bondholders propose $30B reorganization plan, new name: Report
Under the proposal, Pacific Gas & Electric could become "Golden State Power Light & Gas Co." and pay up to $18 billion in wildfire claims.
By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019 -
Split up? Increase oversight? Eliminate holding company? PG&E's future is now open for comment
California regulators are considering a range of options to improve PG&E's safety culture, including breaking apart its gas and electric service or tying its rate of return on equity to safety performance metrics.
By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019 -
California regulators propose 2 GW new peak capacity to address reliability concerns
The state's Public Utilities Commission has launched a procurement track that could include renewables, storage, demand response and other resources, while limiting imports.
By Robert Walton • June 26, 2019 -
Consumers failed to meet thousands of electric and gas line deadlines, prompting Michigan safety query
The utility "failed to satisfy its statutory obligation" to mark underground lines said the Public Service Commission, and now owes state regulators an explanation.
By Robert Walton • June 24, 2019 -
California governor to propose 'liquidity fund' to address wildfire costs
Gavin Newsom, D, will reportedly ask lawmakers to create the fund, which would be supported by $10 billion in bonds issued by the state's Department of Water Resources and has the support of PG&E's creditors.
By Robert Walton • June 21, 2019 -
Ohio Supreme Court rejects FirstEnergy's grid modernization charge
Critics alleged the charge, which totaled about $200 million a year, lacked proper oversight and was an illegal subsidy of the utility's ailing coal and nuclear plants.
By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019 -
NERC sees faster storm recovery times, greater cyber vulnerabilities in 2018 grid review
The annual report analyzing reliability of the North American electric grid concluded that firm load was served 99.92% of the time last year, while also warning that security must constantly improve.
By Robert Walton • June 20, 2019 -
PG&E reaches $1B wildfire settlement with 18 public entities
The settlement resolves claims related to wildfires in 2015, 2017 and 2018. It does not include individual and business claims.
By Robert Walton • June 19, 2019 -
Getty
Utilities are 'the new cyber battlefield,' as US ramps up pressure on Russia's electric grid
With utilities in the cross-hairs of malicious actors, experts say there are health, safety and economic risks for those who rely on the grid, particularly if escalation continues.
By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019 -
Southwest Power Pool to launch energy imbalance market as alternative to CAISO
The SPP market aims to reduce capacity and energy costs, provide price transparency for wholesale energy, and ensure efficient use of the transmission system.
By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019 -
California approved utility wildfire plans. The next step is to see if they're working
To reduce the impacts of preventive power shutoffs — a key part of the plans — two of the state's major utilities have recommended a "resiliency adder" to incentivize distributed generation and storage.
By Robert Walton • June 18, 2019 -
Tri-State assesses FERC rate regulation to avoid potential inconsistency of state oversight
Tri-State currently avoids FERC regulation because all of its members are small electric cooperatives, but it could change that by adding a member who is not — possibly a power marketer.
By Robert Walton • June 17, 2019
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