U.S. Smart Meter Penetration Reaches 50 Percent, Retail Demand Response Enrollment Hits Highest Level Since 2013: FERC

U.S. electric utilities installed nearly 71 million advanced meters, accounting for about 47 percent of meters that were operational in 2016, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s annual report on demand response and advanced metering. The report, issued by commission staff on Nov. 7, found that several states are considering large-scale smart meter projects,…

U.S. EPA Restores 2009 Action Easing Permitting Requirements for Some Projects

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Nov. 7 reinstated a 2009 action clarifying “project aggregation” for the New Source Review permitting program that governs emission permits for building new or significantly retrofitted industrial facilities including power plants. Under the policy, the agency will combine multiple changes to a facility into a single project for permitting…