utilities

In a major step toward eventual electrification, the California Energy Commission (CEC) on Wednesday proposed limiting the use of natural gas in new and remodeled buildings beginning in 2023. The standards still need approval by the California Building Standards Commission, which is scheduled to take up the issue in December. “The impact of climate change…

The future for Houston-based NRG Energy Inc. includes natural gas and retail consumer services with less coal-fired generation, CEO Mauricio Gutierrez said recently. The integration of Direct Energy, a natural gas retailer, along with a growing integrated consumer services platform, were the major drivers for increased earnings in the second quarter, Gutierrez said during a…

Rapid City, SD-based Black Hills Corp. sees renewable natural gas (RNG) as an eventual sustainable driver for continued earnings and customer growth throughout its eight states of utility operations, CEO Linn Evans said earlier this month. Black Hills is “working pretty aggressively” on RNG, Evans told analysts during the second quarter 2021 earnings call. There…

State proposals to transition toward net-zero carbon emissions remain in the “early innings” but there are opportunities for natural gas utilities, according to Xcel Energy Inc.’s incoming CEO. COO Bob Frenzel, who is taking over as CEO for retiring Ben Fowke, discussed the energy transition recently during a 2Q2021 earnings conference call. Frenzel was quizzed…

Robust growth in Texas has led San Diego-based Sempra to crank up its five-year capital expenditures (capex), while the California utility counterparts are doubling down on renewable natural gas (RNG). During a 2Q2021 earnings conference call, senior executives said the utility holding company showed “strong operational and financial results.” Southern California Gas Co. connected to…

Edison International (EI) CEO Pablo Pizarro last Thursday (July 29) previewed what could be a prolonged fight with California regulators over recovery of costs by utilities for supporting statewide efforts to curb the impacts of wildfires and climate change. During a 2Q2021 earnings conference call, Pizarro made it clear that EI utility subsidiary Southern California…

The global oil and natural gas industry is focused on developing hydrogen, but California operators are finding the changeover may require negotiating a winding, rocky road as Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to move the carbon neutrality target to 2035 from 2045. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently rejected a joint application by Sempra’s Southern…

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) on Sunday told California regulators that its equipment may have been involved in the ignition of the now raging Dixie Fire in part of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in Northern California. A PG&E field employee reported a blown fuse on PG&E’s Bucks Creek 1101 12-kV overhead distribution circuit,…

Hedge fund investor Elliott Management Corp. is once again seeking to shake up Duke Energy, publicly questioning whether the North Carolina-based utility’s current leadership should continue to manage its businesses outside of the core Carolinas footprint. In a letter sent to Duke’s board of directors, Elliott acknowledged that fellow investors, stakeholders, market analysts and advisors…