Utilities

Utilities

Bill would end California experiment with income-based electric bills

A controversial plan to tie utility bills to customer income is dividing clean energy groups — and drawing a challenge from lawmakers who want to stop it.

By Jeff St. John . 7 February 2024
Utilities

Duke Energy seeks to delay its 2030 climate target in North Carolina

Amid an expected surge in electricity demand, critics say the utility is “tripling down” on natural gas and snubbing clean energy.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 6 February 2024
Electrification

Who should foot the huge bill to switch California homes to heat pumps?

Fearful of short-term rate hikes, regulators nixed Southern California Edison’s $744M building electrification plan. Environmental groups say the climate can't wait.

By Jeff St. John . 5 February 2024
Hydrogen

Should power plants burn clean hydrogen to make electricity?

Utilities say the fuel can help them achieve a carbon-free grid. Climate hawks say it opens up a morass of waste and greenwashing that may impede better solutions.

By Julian Spector . 2 February 2024
Wind

Kentucky's first-ever utility-scale wind turbine will come online soon

It’s a notable development in a state where renewable energy has had a slow start.

By Liam Niemeyer . 16 January 2024
Transmission

Suddenly, US electricity demand is spiking. Can the grid keep up?

Data centers, factories, heat pumps, and EVs are putting increasing stress on a grid that isn’t growing fast enough, new data shows.

By Jeff St. John . 20 December 2023
Utilities

Maine utilities eye move to time-varying electric rates to boost electrification

"Time-of-use" rates that encourage customers to cut energy use at times of peak demand could help the state meet its electrification goals without straining the grid.

By Annie Ropeik . 14 November 2023
Utilities

Mainers reject historic bid to make for-profit utilities publicly owned

The ballot initiative aimed to bolster Maine’s energy transition, grid reliability and affordability. Utilities fought the effort with a torrent of cash.

By Julian Spector . 8 November 2023
Podcast

For Microsoft, AI is an 'unlock' for decarbonization

A conversation with Microsoft’s Hanna Grene on the many ways AI is impacting utility operations.

Play

By Stephen Lacey . 38 min . 7 November 2023
Clean energy

Kauai became a clean energy leader. Its secret? A publicly owned grid

Making the island’s utility a cooperative resulted in cheaper and cleaner power. It could hold lessons for communities around the country debating local utility control.

By Julian Spector . 7 November 2023