Grid and Transmission

EV Charging Impact on the Grid: Separating kW Reality from the Headlines

Why can annual EV energy use still strain a street transformer? This article explains charging coincidence, feeder limits and managed charging’s limits.

Reliability Must-Run Contracts: Keeping Old Plants Alive for Grid Support

Why keep an uneconomic plant online? Reliability must-run contracts provide local voltage support while transmission upgrades or new resources are developed.

What Causes Grid Congestion: Physical Limits and Market Signals

What causes grid congestion? Thermal, voltage and stability limits can trigger redispatch, curtailment and price spreads between locations.

Industrial Demand Charges Explained: How Peak Kilowatts Determine Your Bill

Why can similar monthly energy use produce different bills? Industrial demand charges reflect the highest average power draw during a billing interval.

Pumped Storage Hydropower: Why New Plants Are Rarely Built in Deregulated Markets

Why do pumped storage plants struggle in deregulated markets? Civil construction costs, uncertain price spreads, and rate-base recovery shape the case.

How Grid-Scale Batteries Make Money: The Markets from Regulation to Black Start

How do batteries make money beyond arbitrage? This guide explains regulation, reserve, voltage support and black-start revenue, plus duration limits.

Long-Duration Storage Technologies: Comparing Flow Batteries, Iron-Air, and Hydrogen

How do flow batteries, iron-air and hydrogen differ? Compare efficiency, duration, land use, infrastructure and the market conditions shaping each option.

Why Electricity Demand Is Growing Again: Electrification and the Grid

Electricity demand growth is returning as EVs, heat pumps and industry electrify. See why peak demand and local transformers matter more than annual energy.

Cost Allocation for Multi-Value Transmission Projects: Who Pays and Who Benefits

Who pays for a regional transmission line when benefits cross state borders? Compare cost causation, beneficiary-pays methods, and FERC Order 1920.

Grid-Enhancing Technologies: How Dynamic Line Rating and Other Tools Add Capacity to Existing Lines

How can existing transmission lines carry more power? Dynamic ratings, topology optimization, and flow controls add capacity while new lines are built.