California pioneers new ways to ease interconnection of large DERs

Limited generation profiles in California will schedule limits to DERs during system constraints. New York, Illinois, Colorado and others are testing more flexible approaches.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 21, 2024

FERC rejects Basin Electric’s cryptocurrency mining rate proposal

Basin Electric failed to show it was fair to treat cryptocurrency loads differently from other similar-sized loads, the agency said in a potentially precedent-setting decision.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 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

New York encourages electrification with new grid planning process, affordability pilot

“The rate at which consumers are electrifying buildings and vehicles has the potential to outpace the existing grid planning processes,” the New York Public Service Commission said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 19, 2024

Navigating FERC orders: Strategies for successful transmission development

How FERC orders impact utilities on their journey to high clean energy growth.

By Kevin Hade, Senior Manager, West Monroe and Cecilia Fung, Manager, West Monroe • Aug. 19, 2024

CenterPoint cannot cancel $800M lease for large mobile generators unused during Beryl

The utility should weigh its options, including subleasing the generators and renegotiating contracts, members of the Public Utility Commission of Texas said Thursday.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 16, 2024

To get more transmission, we need a bottom-up approach

A bottom-up process to build support for transmission development can deliver more line miles faster at lower cost with broad popular support.

By Joshua Rogers • Aug. 15, 2024

Maryland electric customers face up to 24% bill hikes from PJM capacity auction: report

Reliability-must-run contracts for two Talen Energy power plants added about $5 billion to PJM’s capacity costs in its last auction, Synapse Energy Economics found.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 15, 2024

The high stakes of extra high voltage: engineering effective EHV transmission lines

To realize visions of integrated renewable energy systems delivering reliable, efficient power over long distances, we need transmission lines with high-voltage capacity.

By Wil Michalski, Overhead Transmission Solution Lead, Black & Veatch • Aug. 14, 2024

Texas AG investigates CenterPoint storm response, possible ‘fraud, waste’

Hurricane Beryl left 2.3 million CenterPoint customers without power in July, spurring questions about the utility’s storm preparedness and restoration efforts.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 14, 2024

New York ISO reforms interconnection queue, launches cluster study reviews

The changes, which comply with FERC Order 2023, “deliver greater efficiencies and transparency in our interconnection process,” New York ISO President and CEO Rich Dewey said.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2024

59 GW in data center load seeking to connect to Oncor’s system: CEO

Nearly three-fourths of new interconnection requests are coming from data centers, Oncor officials said.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 8, 2024

Do Tri-State’s member exits signal ‘the next episode’ for PJM?

PJM may look “too big to fail,” and reliance interests are always tough to overcome, but the same inflexibility and internal contradictions that are leading to Tri-State’s demise are roiling PJM.

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Aug. 7, 2024

Innovative transmission, energy storage projects in 18 states get $2.2B from DOE

Companies involved in winning projects include Allete, Duke Energy, Eversource, Grid United, National Grid, Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 6, 2024

Senate permitting reform compromise is a win for American energy and American politics

The legislation would provide a good foundation to undo unreasonable timetables and fragmented planning processes inhibiting investments in clean energy projects.

By Paolo Mastrangelo • Aug. 5, 2024

It’s time for a new approach to ensure utilities can get the data they need without driving up customer bills

A modern AMx framework can help utilities better balance meter infrastructure and affordability needs by enabling mixed-meter portfolios and improving cost-effectiveness.

Aug. 5, 2024

USTR to decide soon on proposed tariff hikes for Chinese solar cells, EVs, other items

The White House’s rationale for increasing tariffs is to make the U.S. more competitive in the clean energy and technology sectors, a major focus during the Biden administration.

By Philip Neuffer • Aug. 2, 2024

PJM capacity auction to lead to double-digit rate hikes for Exelon utilities: CFO

When asked about possible power plant ownership, Exelon President and CEO Calvin Butler said, “We're working with our [state utility] commissions on all types of scenarios.”

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 2, 2024

FERC calls SPP Western market proposal ‘deficient,’ requests more info

Southwest Power Pool is developing a response to questions about its Western day-ahead electricity market, including rules around transmission capacity availability and resource aggregations.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 2, 2024

FirstEnergy seeks alternatives to PJM capacity market to bolster power supply

“I'd call yesterday's [PJM auction results] the canary in the coal mine, and the canary didn't make it,” Brian Tierney, FirstEnergy president and CEO, said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 1, 2024

AEP data center and other commercial sales soar 12.4% in Q2

American Electric Power’s peak load could jump 43% by the end of this decade, to 50 GW, based on current data center commitments, according to the company.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 1, 2024

New York could see electricity demand grow 90% by 2042: ISO

Long-duration batteries, small modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen and fuel cells may be needed to replace 25 GW of fossil generation by 2040.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 1, 2024

Texas weighs clawing back $800M CenterPoint spent on unused generation

Hurricane Beryl impacts could contribute to a 2% rise in customer bills for 15 years, the utility said Tuesday.

By Robert Walton • July 31, 2024

Steering gas utilities toward calmer seas with an eye to the electric experience

State regulators need to begin assembling their tools to manage the impact of the energy transition — on both gas customers and the electric grid — before crises in affordability and reliability are upon us.

By Sarah Steinberg and Brad Cebulko • July 30, 2024

55 miles of high-voltage transmission lines added in 2023 as US buildout slows: report

Despite the slowdown, utilities spent more than $25 billion on transmission last year, mainly on lower-voltage projects, up from about $20 billion in 2013, according to Grid Strategies.

By Ethan Howland • July 30, 2024

Helping keep the heat on in rural Maryland

Case study: BGE advanced clean energy goals and met state requirements with battery energy storage.

July 29, 2024