California ISO sketches path to day-ahead trading in Energy Imbalance Market

The grid operator is close to finalizing a three-year "roadmap" with market changes it considers necessary because the current focus on summer peak demand is failing to secure the optimal mix of resources.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2018

SDG&E urges quick action by California Supreme Court on wildfire cost recovery

Saying a state appellate judge that previously ruled against the company should have recused herself due to a conflict of interest, the utility filed a petition this week to recover $379 million from 2007 wildfire costs.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 30, 2018

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

PG&E explains decision not to cut power ahead of Camp Fire

On Nov. 6 and 7, Pacific Gas & Electric informed 70,000 customers it might need to proactively turn off power for public safety. The utility never did that, and kept the power on as the town of Paradise, California, burned.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 29, 2018

ISO-NE anticipates adequate winter resources, but sees 4 possible challenges

After system conditions were pushed to the brink during a cold snap last year, the grid operator says it has "made near-term improvements" to address energy security concerns.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2018

Florida Power & Light closes in on acquisition of Vero Beach utility

The $185 million deal is expected to result in significantly lower bills for Vero Beach customers as they become subject to FPL's lower rates.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 28, 2018

Legislation aims to shield PG&E from fire liability: 'Bankruptcy is not an option'

A California assemblyman is preparing to introduce legislation that would extend provisions of SB 901, passed earlier this year to limit utility liability from 2017 wildfires, to include fires this year.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 27, 2018

Federal climate report: US energy, transportation sectors not prepared for warming

Experts say humans have about a decade to prevent the most catastrophic impacts of climate change and the U.S. is behind the necessary pace of emissions reductions.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 26, 2018

Dominion offers 15% rate cut in updated bid to acquire SCANA

Dominion would lower rates even further than its previous two offers in its bid to acquire SCANA Corp. and its principal subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2018

NextEra buys San Francisco transmission cable for $1B

Purchase of the 53-mile underwater transmission line that supplies 40% of San Francisco and the surrounding area's power is part of the utility's bid to become the country's leading transmission company.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 20, 2018

PG&E reports second line fault in Camp Fire area

The report adds to the utility's involvement with the record blaze just days after California's head regulator assured investors the utility would not go bankrupt.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 19, 2018

NY simplifies interconnection standards to ensure 'robust' clean energy pipeline: PSC chair

"If you want people to do something, make it easy," Public Service Commission Chairman John Rhodes told Utility Dive.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2018

NTSB faults NiSource for deadly Massachusetts gas explosions

A National Transportation Safety Board investigation found "omissions in the engineering work package and construction documentation" for the Columbia Gas system work that led to overpressurization and deadly explosions.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2018

California PUC chair says state won't let PG&E go bankrupt

The utility withdrew its revolving credit lines this week as its equipment was linked to the deadly Camp Fire, a move that can presage a bankruptcy filing. 

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 16, 2018

PG&E debt drawdown raises concerns of potential bankruptcy due to fire costs

The utility withdrew all the cash from its revolving credit lines on Nov. 13, a move financial experts say could presage a bankruptcy filing or other serious financial problems for the utility.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 13, 2018

AEP to spend $2.7B on renewables, $24.9B on T&D in next 5 years

American Electric Power plans to use the majority of its five year budget on transmission and distribution operations to "enhance service for customers."

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2018

Locational value of DER is essential to grid planning. So why hasn't anyone found it?

Policymakers want to identify the precise value of DER to their power systems, but the system may be changing too fast to make that possible right now.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 13, 2018

Report offers 10 options to preserve utility role amid clean energy transition

The collaboration among Rocky Mountain Institute, America's Power Plan and Advanced Energy Economy Institute, examines ideas such as revenue decoupling, performance-incentive mechanisms and multi-year rate plans.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

FirstEnergy reaches settlement to invest $500M in grid modernization

The settlement also returns $900 million to customers as a result of the lowered corporate tax rate.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

Lazard: Renewables can challenge existing coal plants on price

The firm's latest findings underscore a number of recent utility moves to replace coal with wind, solar and gas.

By Gavin Bade • Nov. 12, 2018

Northwestern Energy eyes lower costs as it joins CAISO Energy Imbalance Market

California's grid operator estimates the EIM has generated benefits in excess of $500 million for market participants since its launch.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 12, 2018

PG&E shares hit multiyear low as deadly Camp Fire rages

While the cause has not been determined, the utility reported that a line outage coincided with the most destructive blaze in California history, which has killed at least 29 people and burned 6,700 buildings.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 12, 2018

Clean energy ballot initiatives fare better at local than state level

Voters in Portland, Oregon and Worthington, Ohio approved measures that fund clean energy programs and explore electric aggregation alternatives.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 8, 2018

Atlantic Coast Pipeline costs reach $7B

Duke Energy says permitting delays and a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission stop-work order drove estimated project costs $500 million higher.

By Kim Slowey • Nov. 7, 2018

Texas generators, utilities square off at PUC over storage ownership

The Texas regulatory docket will determine which companies get to own battery storage and other non-traditional grid technologies in the state. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Nov. 6, 2018

Tesla community storage pilot launches 3 months early in Australia

The project utilizes a 105 KW / 420 KWh Tesla Powerpack battery system and will store solar energy during the day, providing power during peak demand times.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 2018