New software is vital as electric distribution utilities are building a modern "grid of the future."

After 10 years of dramatic announcements and proposals, the reality today is that Big Transmission has fallen and it won't be getting up - not even for the Clean Power Plan. And the fall of Big Transmission is not a public policy failure. Rather, it never did make sense.

Of the top ten movers in this year’s Fortnightly 40, seven utilities rose in the rankings and three went down. But the utilities moving the most from 2013 to 2014 went down hard.

European Perspective: While U.S.-based shale gas developers are having luck domestically, they are stymied overseas, for now. For how long?

Threats to the utility business model mean that it’s time to make choices about future growth to protect cash flows while investing in new ventures.

Just how are utilities getting out the word? Legacy media is important but the use mobile devices are gaining ground.

Xcel Energy named George E. Tyson II as senior v.p. for corporate development. Southern Company hired Michael Britt as v.p. for the company’s Energy Innovation Center. Southern Company Services named Martin B. Davis as executive v.p. and CIO. Pacific Gas and Electric promoted Geisha Williams to president, electric operations, Nick Stavropoulos to president, gas operations and John Simon to executive v.p. of corporate services and human resources. And others...

While former CEO Charles Bayless says that economics remains the driving factor behind the shifting sands, there are plenty who would put the blame on the Obama administration and its “War on Coal.”