Drones have the potential to revolutionize utilities’ information gathering and grid resilience, far outweighing the time and expense of adopting the new technology, according to speakers at the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners’ Winter Policy Summit on Tuesday. "This technology is a game changer. … The time and ease...

FERC last week approved a settlement between ReliabilityFirst and ITC Holdings subsidiary Michigan Electric Transmission Company (METC) for violations of NERC reliability standards, along with a separate settlement between RF and Michigan Power (NP21-5). The METC violation carries a $125,000 penalty, but no monetary damages were assessed for the Michigan...

FERC last week approved penalties totaling $344,000 against three utilities as part of settlements between them and WECC for violations of NERC reliability standards, along with a $192,000 penalty assessed by the Texas Reliability Entity against Oncor Electric Delivery. The commission also approved settlements between ReliabilityFirst and the Twin Ridges...