Kavya Balaraman
Utility Dive
San Francisco, CA, United States
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Past articles by Kavya:
CPUC poised to reject Sunnova’s plan to build microgrids in new residential communities
Sunnova’s proposal involves owning and operating microgrids as part of new, master-planned residential communities that would include up to 2,000 homes and some non-residential facilities. → Read More
Amid high energy prices, SCE VP, other experts push to reduce California’s reliance on natural gas
The push follows a recent report that found the California Independent System Operator’s energy market saw additional wholesale costs of $3 billion in December. → Read More
California’s plan to keep Diablo Canyon nuclear plant online hits regulatory snag
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected PG&E’s request to resume the review of a 2009 relicensing application for the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, but PG&E plans to to file a new one by the end of 2023. → Read More
California PUC launches rulemaking to consider extension of Diablo Canyon nuclear plant
The rulemaking stems from legislation approved in September, which among other things required the CPUC to issue a decision by the end of this year establishing new retirement dates for the nuclear plant’s two units. → Read More
California grid operator unveils final proposal for voluntary day-ahead electricity market
On Thursday, PacifiCorp became the first entity to sign on to the new Western day-ahead market. → Read More
The power grid faced heat waves, record demand and tight conditions in 2022. What happens next?
All over the country, a changing climate and extreme weather events – whether due to high temperatures, low temperatures or storms and hurricanes – are posing a threat to grid reliability. → Read More
‘Needs more work’: Solar industry remains skeptical of California PUC’s new net energy metering proposal
One initial analysis suggests the proposal, if approved, would cut the average export rate in California from 30 cents per kilowatt to 8 cents per kilowatt effective April 2023. → Read More
California funds 60 MWh tribal long-duration storage project with nation’s largest vanadium redox flow battery
The project will provide backup power to the Viejas Tribe of Kumeyaay Indians and bolster the reliability of the energy system statewide. → Read More
Taking Charge: Enel X Way’s Chris Baker on how the EV sector is ‘crossing the chasm’
Despite challenges related to supply chain kinks, Baker anticipates that the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act will make a big difference for the EV market. → Read More
California lawmakers vote to extend Diablo Canyon as heat wave forces governor to declare grid emergency
Extending the life of the Diablo Canyon nuclear facility “will provide us with the capacity to de-risk” the power grid, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. → Read More
California becomes first state to roll out submetering technology to spur EV adoption
The decision is the culmination of a decade of efforts to develop submetering capabilities, California Public Utilities Commission President Alice Reynolds said at a meeting Thursday. → Read More
Tesla energy storage deployments fall 11% in Q2 amid supply chain challenges
The drop in energy storage deployments year-over-year is mainly due to semiconductor-related challenges, according to the company. → Read More
Hawaiian Electric proposes $190M of resiliency spending in first phase of climate adaption push
The utility plans to strengthen transmission lines, help with flood monitoring at substations, and move certain overhead distribution lines on Oahu underground, among other measures. → Read More
Hawaii poised to close the door on coal despite delays to clean energy projects
The state is turning to a mix of demand response efforts, distributed energy resources and utility-scale renewable energy projects to keep the lights on after its last coal plant retires in September. → Read More
Environmental groups push more aggressive path to California's goal of 100% clean car sales by 2035
Representatives from the auto industry, however, indicated that meeting even the state’s current proposed regulations would be “extremely challenging.” → Read More
Washington regulatory staff pushes to fine PacifiCorp for omitting social cost of carbon in energy planning
“This shows that commission staff is taking utility implementation of this policy seriously,” said Lauren McCloy, policy director of the NW Energy Coalition. → Read More
GE to triple solar, storage solutions manufacturing capacity amid global supply chain squeeze
The company’s announcement aligns with the expected ramping up of solar module and battery manufacturing in response to supply shortages and expected continued growth, one expert said. → Read More
Storage to play key role in Hawaii grid reliability as coal plant nears retirement, experts say
Both utility-scale and distributed storage will provide unique benefits to the state's grid, panelists at the Hawaii Energy Conference said Tuesday. → Read More
California considers 3 GW of offshore wind by 2030 as experts stress need for clean energy diversity
Ambitious offshore wind targets are a key way to build investor confidence, but the fledgling industry still faces challenges, including supply chain issues, one expert said. → Read More
Washington utilities keep close eye on Great Resignation trends as they prep for wildfire season
Pacific Power, Avista and Puget Sound Energy plan to invest millions of dollars over the next few years in preparing their service territories for wildfires, according to plans filed with regulators this month. → Read More