Unprecedented Calif. wildfires test the electric grid despite preventative efforts by utilities

Published on October 31, 2017 by Chris Galford

Intense wildfires that roared through Northern California this month tested the resiliency of the electric grid, and an increase in extreme weather events predicted by scientists could continue to challenge the utilities industry. In the aftermath of wildfires in its service area in California,... Read More »

Michigan study reveals cost outweighs transmission line benefits in efforts to connect UP grid to others

Published on October 31, 2017 by Chris Galford

Efforts to strengthen the electrical ties between Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (UP) and the Lower Peninsula (LP), as well as to Ontario, have suffered a setback after a state study revealed construction costs outweigh any benefit. Such is the preliminary findings of the Michigan Transmission Expa... Read More »

FERC approves first three pipeline projects since losing quorum

Published on October 31, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved three new pipeline projects in October, the first to be approved since the commission lost its quorum in February. FERC regained its quorum in August when the Senate approved two new commissioners. Between February and August, FERC was una... Read More »

Pennsylvania PUC hosts educational events for customer assistant programs

Published on October 31, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently hosted an educational event in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, with social service organizations from across the Laurel Highlands, as part of a series of events across the state on customer assistance programs. The PUC’s “Be Utility Wise” ... Read More »

Illinois Commerce Commission examines impact of renewable energy integration at regional level

Published on October 31, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) recently held a policy session to evaluate the potential impacts of increased integration of renewable energy resources at the regional transmission level. The session, titled Illinois’ Power Meter: Renewable Energy and Illinois Transmission System, was t... Read More »

Rocky Mountain Power, City of Idaho Falls request approval of service allocation agreement

Published on October 31, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

Rocky Mountain Power and the City of Idaho Falls recently requested that the Idaho Public Service Commission approve a service allocation agreement that would create a process for determining which utility would provide service to new consumers in certain areas. The City of Idaho Falls’ electr... Read More »

Bruner elected as new INGAA Chairman of the Board

Published on October 31, 2017 by Alex Murtha

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America’s (INGAA) Board of Directors recently announced the election of Jeffrey Bruner, current president of the Iroquois Pipeline Operating Company, as the new chairman of the INGAA Board of Directors. According to the INGAA, Bruner’s new role will i... Read More »

Consumer Energy Alliance launches campaign to promote affordable and reliable energy policies

Published on October 30, 2017 by Liz Carey

The Consumer Energy Alliance said it launched a new campaign on Monday designed to promote an all-of-the-above energy policy that also protects the environment in an effort to keep energy prices down for vulnerable families on low and fixed incomes. CEA, a 12-year-old national advocacy group that... Read More »

Bureau of Labor Statistics projects solar installers, wind turbine technicians will be fastest growing US jobs

Published on October 30, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

According to new projections from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine service technicians will be the fastest growing occupations in the United States from 2016 to 2026. BLS projected that solar installer jobs will inc... Read More »

Nuclear Energy Institute praises DOE’s proposed resiliency and reliability rules

Published on October 30, 2017 by Kevin Randolph

The Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) recently applauded the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), which suggests rules that would compensate certain generation resources for reliability and resiliency attributes. NEI recently submitted comments on the iss... Read More »