Competition in transmission ownership does not lower consumer costs

Opponents of right-of-first-refusal laws claim that incumbent transmission providers have no incentive to reduce costs. The exact opposite is true.

By Bill Marsan • May 9, 2024

DOE unveils 10 potential ‘national interest’ transmission corridors where projects could be expedited

The proposed corridors, which total more than 3,500 miles across targeted regions, could unlock federal financing.

By Robert Walton • May 8, 2024

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

Oncor Electric files $3.4B plan to strengthen Texas grid, Q1 profit rises 118%

Oncor’s strategic plan includes $525 million to bolster cybersecurity and $1.8 billion to harden and automate its legacy overhead and underground systems.

By Robert Walton • May 7, 2024

Replacing a Talen Energy coal-fired power plant with battery storage is infeasible: PJM

A Sierra Club proposal that aims to avoid a reliability must-run contract for the 1,280-MW Brandon Shores plant in Maryland is unworkable, the PJM Interconnection found.

By Ethan Howland • Updated May 6, 2024

ISO-NE anticipates 17% rise in annual energy use by 2033, led by EVs and heating

The region has typically seen grid demand peak during the summer, but that may change across the next 10 years, says a new capacity and demand report from the New England ISO.

By Robert Walton • May 6, 2024

Amid evolving utility goals and rising rates, an AMx strategy can de-risk AMI and bring all meters to the table

As the first wave of advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) begins to reach the end of its expected life, new meter technologies—including next-generation “AMI 2.0” meters—promise to offer a host of new benefits to utilities and customers alike.

By Essie Snell • May 6, 2024

Taiwan Semiconductor’s $65B Arizona investment, data centers key drivers of APS sales growth: CFO

The state is attracting residents and industry, resulting in “robust” first-quarter sales, said Andrew Cooper, chief financial officer of APS parent Pinnacle West.

By Robert Walton • May 3, 2024

Long-term transmission planning will power America’s future

It is in the national interest to approach the power grid the same way we have approached the internet, the interstate highway system and telecommunications.

By John Szoka and Ted Thomas • May 2, 2024

PSEG in talks to sell nuclear power to data centers: CEO LaRossa

“Our New Jersey nuclear units could provide access to a highly reliable, carbon-free source of baseload power,” PSEG CEO Ralph LaRossa said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • May 1, 2024

AEP faces 15 GW of new load, driven by Amazon, Google, other data centers: interim CEO Fowke

Load growth in Ohio is sparking talk of letting the state’s utilities own power plants again, Ben Fowke, AEP interim CEO, said Tuesday.

By Ethan Howland • May 1, 2024

SPP Markets+ Western market plan sparks support, protest and concerns

Arizona Public Service, Public Service Co. of Colorado, Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power and a public power trade group urged FERC to approve the day-ahead market.

By Ethan Howland • April 30, 2024

FirstEnergy may ‘put a little money on the table’ to help end HB 6 bribery litigation: CEO

With recently approved rate hikes, FirstEnergy “proved that we can obtain constructive regulatory outcomes across our jurisdictions,” CEO Brian Tierney said.

By Ethan Howland • April 29, 2024

Charging ahead: GIS mobility sparks continuous improvement

GIS and Modern Network Management are the foundation for energy transformation.

By Bill Meehan, Esri • April 29, 2024

ERCOT considers demand response, dynamic line ratings to address South Texas transmission constraints

Grid officials say a request for proposals for demand resources would lean on “lessons learned” from a canceled October RFP for 3 GW of winter capacity.

By Robert Walton • April 26, 2024

DOE sets 2-year deadline for federal transmission permitting, cutting average timelines in half

In addition, the Energy Department has tentatively agreed to provide up to $331 million to an LS Power transmission project that could help create a new transmission pathway in the West and deliver wind from Idaho to California.

By Ethan Howland • April 25, 2024

ERCOT launches new planning efforts as 2030 load growth projections soar 40 GW in a year

The growth is being fueled by a range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, data centers, industrial electrification, hydrogen and electric vehicles, said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2024

The case for electricity transmission competition has never been clearer with today’s inflation

Both the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission have found that competitive bidding will improve grid sustainability and resiliency while lowering rates and increasing innovation.

By Paul Cicio • April 23, 2024

New England states seek federal funds for large-scale transmission, storage buildout

The funding “would be transformational for the development of renewable energy and grid resiliency across the entire Northeast region,” said Massachusetts Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure Quentin Palfrey.

By Robert Walton • April 19, 2024

Democratic bill mandates FERC interconnection reforms to bring new resources online faster

The bill would help bring new power supply online to address surging demand growth and increasing grid reliability concerns, according to the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman.

By Ethan Howland • April 18, 2024

DOE issues road map for speeding, improving grid interconnections to unlock 2.6-TW backlog

“There is unlikely to be any document for years to come reflecting such a comprehensive set of [interconnection] solutions,” said Tyler Norris, former head of development at Cypress Creek Renewables.

By Ethan Howland • April 18, 2024

FERC’s final regional transmission rule is coming soon. It has one shot to get it right.

A strong rule will help spur the transmission lines necessary to meet America’s growing energy needs, while also setting the table for a future interregional rule to mitigate the effects of extreme weather.

By Ray Long • April 18, 2024

DOE cites cost, reliability concerns for new gas plants as it details how to meet surging power demand

Rising electricity demand will require a portfolio of resources, including energy storage, hydropower, nuclear, grid-enhancing technologies and demand-side management, DOE said.

By Robert Walton • April 18, 2024

Tackling 3 key issues can help scale virtual power plants and spur a wave of benefits, analysts say

Advanced operational software, communications standards and customer compensation are needed to scale VPP size and services, cut system and customer costs and enhance reliability, key VPP players agree.

By Herman K. Trabish • April 17, 2024

Surging demand growth spurs openings for advanced nuclear, grid technologies: DOE’s Crane

Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure law funding are supporting new technologies, he said, but the "missing link" is permitting reform. “Without permitting reform, what we are hindering is new zero-carbon energy sources.”

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2024

VPPs, other advanced technologies could each expand existing US grid capacity 20-100 GW: DOE

Separately, AES and LineVision released a case study showing how using dynamic line ratings increased capacity on power lines in Indiana and Ohio.

By Ethan Howland • April 16, 2024