California to consider changing rules for utility wildfire liability

None of the changes would impact fire liability cases currently being dealt with, but changes to the rules could help utilities reduce liability payments in the future.

By Robert Walton • July 5, 2018

Reliability coordinator shakeup continues as Midwest group expands boundaries

Effective Monday, 100 companies registered with the Southwest Power Pool Regional Entity shifted to the Midwest Reliability Organization. 

By Robert Walton • July 5, 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

FERC rejects ISO-NE Mystic waiver, orders quick fuel security reforms

Regulators said ISO-NE's waiver request was too broad, but directed it to file a short-term cost recovery proposal for the natural gas plant, as well as broader market changes. 

By Gavin Bade • July 3, 2018

New Pennsylvania law allows PPL to press for decoupling of sales and revenues

The idea is to use new ratemaking schemes to break the link and encourage the development of energy efficiency and other grid-edge resources.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2018

North Carolina AG to challenge Duke rate decision as utility weighs appeal

North Carolina regulators largely rejected a rate increase proposed by Duke Energy, but allowed it to recover most of its coal ash management costs. Both of those decisions could come under fire.

By Robert Walton • July 2, 2018

Powelson to leave FERC deadlocked on gas pipelines, grappling with resilience

Republican FERC Commissioner Robert Powelson said Thursday he will leave in mid-August, giving more weight to the two Democratic members' opposition of natural gas pipeline certifications.

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 29, 2018

Avangrid's $2.5B Northeast resiliency program puts emphasis on trees

The program will consider grid edge resources like energy storage, microgrids and AMI. But the bulk of the plan is not so sexy — 80% of the company's outages are caused by trees.

By Robert Walton • June 28, 2018

Dynamic Grid Systems will rebuild a small Maine utility from the ground up

Isle au Haut, Maine, has less than 150 electric subscribers but faces the same challenges as larger utilities when it comes to integrating stable, renewable energy.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2018

California ISO's long road ahead to turn storage into a transmission asset

Responses to CAISO's "storage as a transmission asset" proposal show there is more work to be done, as developers and investor-owned utilities support opposing cost-recovery options.

By Peter Maloney • June 26, 2018

New grid transparency tools improve distributed generation siting

Two tools can help customers and project developers more quickly and cheaply identify grid locations for distribution generation projects, according to Mari Hernandez, regulatory program manager at the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.

By Mari Hernandez • June 26, 2018

Utility bankruptcy concerns rise as bill comes due for 2017 California fires

Some 394 wildfires at the end of 2017 could cost California's IOUs tens of billions, but there are ways to mitigate the financial impact.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 25, 2018

North Carolina regulators issue rare rebuke to Duke with rate denial

The North Carolina Utilities Commission rejected both a rate request of $700 million annually and Duke Energy's Power/Forward Carolinas grid modernization initiative.

By Robert Walton • June 25, 2018

Amid national debate over grid security, NERC says reliability is improving

A new report from the electric reliability organization points out that the U.S. grid bounced back in record time after being hit by a pair of Category 5 hurricanes last year.

By Robert Walton • June 22, 2018

PJM: Capacity Performance rules improved generator results, though less for coal and oil

The grid operator compared two high-demand periods in the PJM Interconnection, to see if new generator rules have made an impact.

By Robert Walton • June 22, 2018

Daimler facility stores batteries for EVs while providing storage to grid

Daimler and Mercedes-Benz Energy are providing grid service from an energy storage facility in a former German coal plant.

By Peter Maloney • June 21, 2018

Projected US renewables could accelerate power price volatility — what can grid operators do?

New research shows power system prices will plunge and spike unless system operators and renewables developers focus on grid flexibility.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 21, 2018

PG&E to record $2.5B charge for California wildfires — and warns it could get worse

The utility told federal regulators that the charge does not include any amounts for potential penalties or fines.

By Robert Walton • June 21, 2018

DOE: Puerto Rico has plenty of options for new generation

A new report on options for rebuilding the island's grid recommends considering a wide range of renewables and alternative fuels, an expansion of liquefied natural gas imports, microgrids and energy storage.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2018

5 things utilities should consider for energy storage

Utilities navigating energy storage integration should take into account the flexibility and speed of modular programs when comparing storage to gas peaker plants, Axiom Exergy's John Lerch writes.

By John Lerch • June 19, 2018

Is New Hampshire on the verge of battery energy storage history?

A Liberty Utilities-stakeholder settlement could put 1,000 behind-the-meter batteries in place and provide a model for the rest of the country.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 19, 2018

Reports: PG&E claims wildfire liability could force bankruptcy

In an 8-K filed with the SEC, PG&E said that based on current state law, it expects to "record a significant liability for losses" associated with 10 fires.

By Robert Walton • June 19, 2018

100% renewable energy omnibus clears Massachusetts Senate

The package of energy bills would also remove net metering caps, increase the storage mandate and void demand charges approved earlier this year for Eversource. 

By Iulia Gheorghiu • June 18, 2018

FERC rejects Mountain Valley challenges, dividing again over climate, pipeline need

More than a dozen environmental groups petitioned FERC to review its October approval of the 300-mile pipeline, but FERC said its original decision is valid. 

By Gavin Bade • June 18, 2018

Electrified heating with demand management could cut US carbon emissions 10%: RMI

The group's report suggests prioritizing retrofits for homes that currently provide heat with propane and heating oil.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2018

Massachusetts utilities conclude contract negotiations to import hydro

​The state's electric distribution companies reached agreements with Hydro-Québec and Central Maine Power Company and will file the 20-year contracts with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities.

By Robert Walton • June 15, 2018