The year 2015 marked a turning point in the evolution of the U.S. electric industry’s outlook toward security. The uncertainty surrounding the transition from Version 3 to Version 5 of NERC-CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection) has significantly diminished. Now utilities are making concerted efforts to identify and address security risks across… Keep reading →
The electric utility industry is experiencing significant changes affecting virtually every part of the traditional utility business model, including the regulatory and ratemaking aspects. As utilities grapple with these issues, four key regulatory practices that utilities are seeking have emerged. According to Black & Veatch’s 2015 Strategic Directions: U.S. Electric Industry report, the top rate… Keep reading →
Innovation and new technology are highly valued among wastewater utilities, and these tools can be implemented if performance can be demonstrated through pilots or other testing. But several factors are holding back utilities from fully embracing these advancements – available capital, lack of technical understanding and a perceived apathy at the upper levels of the… Keep reading →
Before the U.S. electric grid became centralized under utilities and independent system operators, it consisted of unorganized and unconnected generators. As distributed energy resources (DERs) – such as rooftop solar, energy storage, and other generation sources beyond large power plants – find their way into (and onto) more homes and businesses, it’s clear the grid’s… Keep reading →
For most water and wastewater utilities, current revenues simply do not cover all financial obligations. For that reason, a movement is afoot across the U.S. to shift from a traditionally volumetric-based revenue model to one in which base or fixed charges play a larger role. According to Black & Veatch’s 2015 Strategic Directions: U.S. Water… Keep reading →
Houston tech start-up approved for business in Connecticut HOUSTON, Sept. 21, 2015 Today, Innowatts LLC, a technology company specializing in personalized energy products, announced that it has expanded its platform to the northeastern markets. The State of Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved Innowatts to operate in the state, bringing Innowatts’ total amount of states… Keep reading →
California’s “big three” utilities are taking important steps toward achieving a clean energy future – one in which we will better utilize renewable sources of energy, give customers more choice and control, and keep the state on course to cut pollution. One way they are doing this is through Distribution Resource Plans (DRPs). Signed into state… Keep reading →
For years, design-build strategies have served as an alternative to traditional water utility project delivery methods, tempting utilities as an end-to-end solution for delivering new, expanded and modified facilities and other key projects. But this year, design-build has become a nearly mainstream method of choice for project owners. According to Black & Veatch’s 2015 Strategic… Keep reading →
Slow growth in new customer base coupled with water conservation efforts due to drought conditions are combining to create yet another challenging financial year for U.S. water service providers. This situation presents a quandary for water utilities – which are actively encouraging water conservation while at the same time struggling to service high fixed costs.… Keep reading →
Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) is a New York initiative that would create a radically different electric system and change the way power is generated and distributed in the state. Utilities would direct the distribution of electricity produced by thousands of smaller entities. REV encompasses areas such as regulatory reform; load/peak demand management; consumer management… Keep reading →
