Utility

To strengthen its oversight of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) safety performance, California regulators have established an independent safety monitor to help shape daily operations. PG&E is under scrutiny for its potential role in causing several North California wildfires, including the Dixie fire, considered the second largest in state history.  “We welcome the additional…

Consolidated Edison Inc. (ConEd) and 174 Power Global are set to move forward with the East River Energy Storage Project, a 100 MW battery storage system in New York City, after the state Public Service Commission (PSC) gave recent approval for the project.  Irvine, CA-headquartered 174 Power Global, which specializes in renewable energy projects, has…

In a move to lower its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Michigan public utility Consumers Energy announced it would purchase four natural gas-fired power plants as it aims to transition away from coal by 2025.  Pending state and federal regulatory approvals, Consumers Energy has proposed purchasing the 1,176 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle Covert Generating Station…

Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. is exiting the natural gas distribution business in Vermont and some of Quebec with the sale of its stakes in Noverco Inc.* The Calgary-based pipeline and utility conglomerate agreed to sell for C$1.14 billion ($912 million) its 38.9% share to Trencap LP. Trencap now has 100% of the company as it was…

In an effort to further its goal of achieving net-zero carbon by 2050, Duke Energy is taking part in a study to convert retiring coal units into long-duration, zero-emissions energy storage systems. The North Carolina-based utility is studying the socioeconomic, environmental and operational benefits of integrating Malta Inc.’s 100 MW, 10-hour pumped heat energy storage…

Portland, OR-based NW Natural finessed its natural gas supply and storage operations to avoid excessive extra costs during February, which helped lift first quarter profits by more than 20%, the CEO said last week. “During a widespread freeze in Oregon in February, our teams successfully managed gas operations to mitigate impacts on customers,” CEO David…

For the next 15 years, natural gas will be an important transition fuel, but longer term, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is still conducting an assessment of what its future will be, CEO Patti Poppe said Thursday. “In all the clean energy scenarios, and certainly in the near-term over the next 15 years, there…

Utility CenterPoint Energy Inc. said on Thursday it agreed to sell its natural gas distribution businesses in Arkansas and Oklahoma to Summit Utilities in a $2.15 billion cash deal that could help fund the seller’s transformation strategy. The assets include 17,000 miles of pipelines in Arkansas and Oklahoma, serving more than half a million customers.…

NextEra Energy Inc. is diving into the renewable natural gas (RNG) game with plans to develop a landfill gas capture facility with fuels distributor Opal Fuels LLC. The utility, the self-described world’s largest producer of wind and solar energy, plans to work with Opal to replace an existing power generation facility with a new RNG…