Nine solar projects in Georgia developed by Duke Energy Renewables, in collaboration with SolAmerica Energy, are now in commercial operation. The nine projects – completed through Georgia Power’s Renewable Energy Development Initiative – will generate 14.1 megawatts (MW) of solar power. Duke Energy Renewables now has 27.4 MW of solar projects in Georgia. A total of 54,590 solar panels were built into the projects.

Fort Collins Utilities launched the Peak Partners program in June 2014 in partnership with Itron. This summer, just five years after the program launched, the 1,000th Peak Partners conservation event was achieved. Conservation events occur year-round when the utility automatically turns off the elements of electric water heaters and cycles the compressors of participating customers’ central air conditioners to help balance the region’s demand for electricity.

PG&E recently encouraged customers to enroll in its California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) Program, noting that thousands of income-eligible households are not yet signed up. These qualified customers are missing out on savings of up to 20 percent or more on their monthly energy bills. PG&E estimates that more than 74,000 customers in its service area could lower their monthly costs by enrolling in CARE.

EnergyHub recently announced a collaboration with Oracle Utilities to help energy providers intelligently incorporate DERs into their customer engagement and distribution network operations. The two companies are teaming up to supercharge enrollment in bring-your-own-device programs, create a connected utility experience for customers and enable utility distribution operators to integrate DERs at scale.

Hawaiian Electric (HECO) recently launched its largest-ever renewable energy procurement, seeking approximately 900 MW between Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island, with the first projects coming online in 2022. Hawaii is aiming to supply 100 percent renewable energy by 2045, and HECO officials say by the end of this year renewable generation will make up almost a third of the utility's generation portfolio.

German home energy storage company sonnen fulfilled a long-time dream for its U.S. operation: It will supply battery systems to an entire new residential community, with a contract in place to deliver grid services to the local utility. Sonnen will install more than 600 ecoLinx batteries in developer Wasatch Group's Soleil Lofts apartments in Herriman, Utah, a rapidly growing region south of Salt Lake City.