Going Against the Flow

Transmission cost allocation when electrons and benefits move in different directions.

You’ve heard the old saw, “Costs are assigned to those who caused them.” But what about damage from Superstorm Sandy? Who “caused” that?

You Say You Want a REVolution

It’s difficult to assess the REV promise because it’s difficult to figure out what REV is really about

Let’s be honest. Does anyone know what New York’s REV (“Reforming the Energy Vision”) really is? Other than the most hyped regulatory initiative since California restructuring some 20 years ago?

Solar Consumer Education and Protection

Consumers should embrace clean energy alternatives only after educating themselves on the technologies and necessary commitments

Consumer Counts: It is critical that stakeholders in the energy space maintain an open dialogue with consumers and create and uphold good, consistent standards, education and protections.

New Grid Security Measures for 2016

Two new laws that may have escaped attention by the industry have the potential to dramatically change the grid security landscape

It is unclear whether and to what extent CISA 2015 will displace or incorporate existing electric industry programs

Technology on the Move

Military and telecom expertise create high-tech utility solution

Imagine trying to hold a 120-foot antenna in 90 mile-per-hour winds…an antenna that if moved more than an inch, would lose its signal. That was just one of the challenges facing Xcel Energy as it strategized creating a temporary microwave connection to secure vital communications for a new substation in New Mexico in order to meet contractual requirements.

Activating the Human Grid

Involvement of the crew and utility customer is a powerful untapped source of telemetry, control and general network information

The purpose fulfilling the other half of the human grid is to leverage the consumer to provide outage and restoration telemetry, and in some cases, a degree of load control, since the consumer ultimately controls the load.

Postcards from Hawaii: Lessons on Grid Transformation

Hawaiian utility experts describe the islands’ fast-growing solar market as a postcard from the future

The group spent four days immersed in Hawaii’s dynamic solar market, listening and learning from the experiences of utility executives, policy makers, solar and clean tech players.

Community Storage: Coming to a Home Near You

A readily available option for storage may be coordinating existing devices that have untapped storage capacity

Despite battery technology’s ability to grab clean tech media headlines, industry still lacks a clear, practical, cost-effective path.