PJM CEO: Powering a resilient grid through competitive markets

Federal action to protect specific power plants is not only unnecessary, PJM CEO Andy Ott writes, it would raise consumer costs and discourage investment in newer, more efficient technologies.

By Andrew L. Ott • Nov. 6, 2018

ISO New England unveils new initiatives to enhance winter reliability

New England has been looking for market-based solutions to winter difficulties, as its reliance on natural gas has at times put the grid operator in a tight spot.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 6, 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 defends planned outages as 'last resort' tool to prevent wildfires

The utility has incurred more than $2 billion in costs related to wildfires this year and faces billions more in potential liability, putting a premium on efforts to avert such disasters.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2018

Emerging best practices for utility grid hardening

The impacts of extreme weather on utility infrastructure are forcing utilities and regulators to take a more proactive approach to storm preparation, risk mitigation and budgeting than they have been accustomed to.

By Jeremy Clark • Nov. 5, 2018

Xcel, Boulder agree on separation details in march towards municipal utility

Officials say they are making progress on forming a municipal utility, moving toward an expected November 2020 up-or-down decision by Boulder voters.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 5, 2018

Dominion will sell its Blue Racer JV for $1.5B

The utility made the announcement during its third quarter earnings call, also updating investors on rising cost estimates for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline and its Supply Header project.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2018

PSEG's advanced metering plan would replace 2.2M meters by 2024

New Jersey regulators, which placed a moratorium on smart meter development last year, will need to approve PSEG's $800 million plan to replace all meters in its territory.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 2, 2018

SoCal Edison says its equipment 'may have led' to deadly 2017 Thomas fire

The utility has informed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it believes its equipment was "associated" with one of the massive fire's possible ignition points.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 1, 2018

Nevada's Question 3 pits retail choice against uncertainty in battle of billionaires

Voters could pass a constitutional amendment that restructures the state's regulated utility, opens a competitive electricity market and subjects customers and lawmakers to hard questions.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 1, 2018

ICF: Natural gas infrastructure resilient to storms, but improvements can be made

In a report prepared for Southern California Gas, global consulting firm ICF looked at the resiliency of the natural gas sector and concluded it generally holds up well in natural disasters.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2018

Western Regionalization Plan B: Utilities take an interim step to expand the grid

California lawmakers rejected the CAISO expansion so western participants are instead looking to evolve the energy imbalance market.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 30, 2018

California regulators moving quickly to review utility fire mitigation plans

The California Public Utilities Commission opened a proceeding to review utility fire mitigation measures, including new requirements set by recent legislation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 29, 2018

San Diego chooses community aggregation path to 100% renewables

The city's mayor announced the start of process to form a community choice aggregation model as San Diego moves toward its goal of 100% renewables by 2035.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 26, 2018

#UtilityDiveLive Twitter chat calls out utilities advancing DER

We partnered with the Smart Electric Power Alliance to talk about the opportunities and pitfalls of getting to the grid of the future.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 25, 2018

Utilities worry FCC plan to open wireless spectrum could compromise communications

Making 6 GHz bandwidth available to unlicensed users could interfere with communications between utilities and their customers during emergencies, sector leaders fear. 

By Catherine Morehouse • Oct. 24, 2018

Oracle Utilities boasts industry-leading 20 TWh of savings for consumers

The company says its products have led to seven times the energy savings of the second ranking home energy savings company, Tendril, which had saved consumers 2.7 TWh by May.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • Oct. 22, 2018

Alternative retail electric suppliers: A surge in consumer protection standards in Illinois

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is applying new and stronger consumer protection rules, stakeholder engagement and consumer education tools to evaluate the deregulated electric supply market.

By Sadzi Martha Oliva, Gerardo J. Delgado & Janel Haretoun • Oct. 19, 2018

PJM launches independent investigation into GreenHat default

After declaring the financial transmission rights trader in default last June, the grid operator is now trying to manage tens of millions in losses.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 17, 2018

Portland General Electric to develop 'smart grids' in 3 Oregon towns

The trio of smart grids will serve 20,000 customers, allowing them to respond to demand management signals and maximize renewable energy consumption.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018

Massachusetts regulators order Columbia Gas to halt all non-essential work

The moratorium follows a deadly series of explosions in September the Columbia Gas system in northern Massachusetts.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2018

Spotlight: 6 key issues driving the utility sector today

The industry is undergoing a fundamental transition as it moves away from a centralized, baseload-focused past to a more distributed, renewable future.

By Larry Pearl • Oct. 15, 2018

California requires utilities to address pipeline methane leaks

The state now requires utilities to prioritize pipeline repairs that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, in contrast with Trump's EPA which is looking to ease oil and gas methane restrictions.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018

In a first, PG&E cuts power to 60,000 to prevent wildfires during wind storm

Planned outages during dry, windy conditions are the "last resort" in a wildfire prevention plan rolled out by the utility last year. 

By Gavin Bade • Oct. 15, 2018

California strives to nix its natural gas habit without letting the lights go out

The state relies on natural gas for reliability, but won't reach its 100% zero emissions goal without looking to alternatives.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 15, 2018

Grid Mod: Transactive and distributed tech demand a new approach

Utilities must prove to regulators that grid upgrades will help integrate a new class of resources reliably and cost-effectively.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 15, 2018