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Three Ways Electric Utilities Can Avoid A Death Spiral

Three Ways Electric Utilities Can Avoid A Death Spiral In the summer of 2016, two high-profile investment advisors declared “The Sun Will Set on Electric Utilities” in a well-read Barron’s article. Citing rising fixed costs and competition from energy storage and microgrids, Leonard Hyman and William Tilles predicted a “death spiral” for utilities where rising … Continue reading Three Ways Electric Utilities Can Avoid A Death Spiral

Utilities Line Up to Profit From ‘Slowest Trainwreck’ in History

Utilities Line Up to Profit From ‘Slowest Trainwreck’ in History The unrelenting plunge of power prices will benefit companies that can withstand new challenges from upstart wind and solar newcomers, according to two of Europe’s biggest utilities. Only large companies with diverse portfolios and resources will have the weight to compete against renewable projects that … Continue reading Utilities Line Up to Profit From ‘Slowest Trainwreck’ in History

US regulators must break out of current molds, embrace new technology

US regulators must break out of current molds, embrace new technology New technologies poised to modernize the grid and give consumers more choice in their energy decisions risk being mired in policy discussions and never getting to commercialization if regulators do not begin to break out of their current approaches, a utility executive said at … Continue reading US regulators must break out of current molds, embrace new technology

Severing ties with utilities isn’t as easy as cutting the cable cord

Severing ties with utilities isn’t as easy as cutting the cable cord If disaster ever struck, Joe Fleischmann could keep the lights, refrigerator and big-screen TV running in his Orange County home, even if the power company went dark. Fleischmann is an early adopter of home energy storage: In his garage is a battery strong … Continue reading Severing ties with utilities isn’t as easy as cutting the cable cord

McKinsey: Cheaper batteries present imminent threat of load defection for utilities

McKinsey: Cheaper batteries present imminent threat of load defection for utilities Energy storage prices are falling faster than anyone expected, with battery costs down to less than $230/kWh in 2016 from almost $1,000/kWh in 2010, McKinsey noted. The cost declines are being driven by a growing market for consumer electronics and demand for electric vehicles. … Continue reading McKinsey: Cheaper batteries present imminent threat of load defection for utilities