North America News

Latest news and developments from North America region

• Canadian Hydro One completes CAD85 million investment at Hawthorne substation

  July 27, 2021
  Canadian Hydro One Inc., Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution company, announced the completion of about CAD85 million worth critical upgrades to its Hawthorne transmission substation—first commissioned more than 60 years ago.

• NARUC submits nominees to Joint Federal-State Task Force on transmission

  July 23, 2021
  The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) has submitted its list of nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to serve on the new Joint Federal-State Task Force on Electric Transmission.

• New Jersey signs Bill to end local control of wind power lines

  July 22, 2021
  New Jersey’s governor has recently signed a Bill that would remove most local control from where and how offshore wind energy projects come ashore.

• Camus Energy secures USD16 million Series A to advance grid management, support utilities

  July 22, 2021
  Camus Energy, a leading provider of advanced grid management technology, recently announced that it has secured USD16 million in a Series A round (i.e., the company’s first round of venture capital financing), led by Park West Asset Management and joined by Congruent Ventures, Wave Capital and other investors, including an investor-owned utility (IoU).

• New Jersey BPU approves smart energy network to improve grid reliability

  July 21, 2021
  Delaware-based Atlantic City Electric recently received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) to build a Smart Energy Network across the company's entire South Jersey service area.

• NYPA to test use of AI in upgrading transmission cable

  July 21, 2021
  The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is launching a demonstration project with a Sweden-based technology company—Eneryield of Gothenburg, to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) as part of a long-term upgrade strategy for the Y-49 Long Island Sound Cable.

• Entergy Mississippi completes USD37 million service reliability project in Warren County

  July 20, 2021
  Entergy Mississippi Incorporation—a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation—recently completed a USD37 million transmission upgrade that will improve service reliability to customers in the Flowers area of Warren County.

• Memphis utility seeks proposals for construction of interconnection projects

  July 20, 2021
  Memphis Light, Gas and Water Division (MLGW)—a municipal utility providing electricity, gas and water to customers in Shelby County, Tennessee—acting through its Board of Commissioners, has recently issued a Request for Proposals (RfPs) to solicit submissions from qualified vendors to construct a set of 500 kV and 230 kV substations and transmission lines (interconnection projects) in the states of Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas.

• US energy experts release policy blueprint for strengthening transmission infrastructure

  July 16, 2021
  A recent policy blueprint in the US—released on July 12, 2021—by Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG) —a non-profit organisation focused on electric transmission system planning, details recommendations for enhancing the country’s fight against climate change.

• Black Hills Energy completes power line rebuild in Rapid City, US

  July 16, 2021
  Black Hills Energy—a subsidiary of the Black Hills Corporation—has completed the rebuild of a 55-year-old transmission line in Rapid City, South Dakota, to meet modern construction standards.

• Biden order could prompt FERC to act on utility-sector competition

  July 15, 2021
  A new Executive Order issued by the Biden Administration could serve as an impetus for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to crack down on anti-competitive behavior, while encouraging more wholesale power market expansion.

• FERC commences process to build future transmission system

  July 15, 2021
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) recently approved an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking inviting the public to comment on potential reforms to improve transmission planning, cost allocation and generator interconnection processes, as the nation transitions to a cleaner-energy future.

• ERCOT releases plan to boost reliability after electric failures

  July 15, 2021
  The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) has recently released a 60-point roadmap, outlining how the grid operator plans to ensure the state's power grid is more reliable, following the catastrophic blackouts that occurred in mid-February that almost shut down the region's entire electric system.

• Recent IISD report calls for climate-resilient infrastructure in Canada [free access]

  July 15, 2021
  A recent report published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) —an independent think tank—emphasises on how Canada should act fast to protect critical infrastructure from climate breakdown by building resilient ports, power grids, bridges, etc.

• FERC, NERC, regional entities recommend grid operating assessments

  July 14, 2021
  The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) and its regional entities recently issued a report outlining recommendations for real-time assessments of grid operating conditions.

• New Jersey plans to remain in regional power grid market

  July 14, 2021
  The State of New Jersey is moving away from its earlier plans to exit the regional power grid market, a step it had studied over the last year over concerns that policies by the grid operator and federal officials were undermining New Jersey’s clean energy goals.

• PSE&G reaches agreement to lower transmission rates

  July 14, 2021
  Public Service Enterprise Group’s (PSEG) subsidiary—Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G)—has recently reached an agreement with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel related to its transmission rates, which would save electric residential customers about 3 per cent on their bill, or approximately USD3 per month.

• PG&E proposes investments to reduce wildfire risk, enhance energy system safety

  July 9, 2021
  The California-based investor-owned utility (IoU)—Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)—is proposing a series of crucial safety, resiliency and clean energy investments in its 2023 General Rate Case (GRC) —i.e., the proceedings used to address the costs of operating and maintaining the utility system and allocation of those costs among customer classes.

• New York offers USD12.5 million for long-duration storage, hydrogen [free access]

  July 8, 2021
  The New York State administration will make USD12.5 million available in funding to long-duration energy storage technologies and pilot projects exploring the potential for green hydrogen production.

• Siemens and Malta partner to develop scalable energy storage technology

  July 8, 2021
  Recently, the German equipment manufacturer—Siemens Energy, and Malta—a long duration energy storage system producer, have teamed up to build new thermal turbomachinery for energy storage.