February 28
Duke Energy Florida Plans Four New Solar Energy Sites in Sunshine State
Top consumer smart energy news hand-selected and brought to you by the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative.
Member News
Duke Energy Florida recently filed its 2025 Solar Base Rate Adjustment with Florida regulators outlining plans for four solar energy sites the company is pursuing this year. According to the Florida PSC filing, the company is investing over $521 million to establish solar sites in Florida’s Madison County, Sumter County, Hernando County and Jefferson County.
A recent survey from the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative (SECC) indicates that 79 percent of consumers would likely participate in a voluntary winter demand response program, adjusting their heating system in exchange for a small financial incentive. The survey also found that 59 percent of respondents expressed interest in a direct load control (DLC) program, where the energy provider manages heating system adjustments.
Virtual Peaker, a leading virtual power plant software company with AI-enabled grid-edge technology, announced the successful completion of an additional round of financing, led by Greensoil PropTech Ventures with participation from Susquehanna Sustainable Investments (SSI), as well as participation from existing investors, including Moore Strategic Ventures and Emerson Ventures.
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Xcel Energy’s plan to advance carbon reductions and add new energy resources to deliver reliable, affordable energy. The company’s Upper Midwest Energy Plan includes new investments in battery energy storage systems, wind and solar power, and a natural-gas fired power plant, as well as extending the lives of Xcel Energy’s two carbon-free nuclear plants.
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Industry News
A fast-growing startup is giving Texas homeowners cheap access to unusually large batteries for backup power – and paying for it by maneuvering those same batteries in the state’s ERCOT energy markets. Base Power launched last May and already has installed more than 1,000 home batteries, around 30 megawatt-hours, in North Austin and the Fort Worth area.
As utility customers increasingly seek seamless digital interactions, a new study by J.D. Power finds that many utilities face challenges in meeting customer expectations for digital engagement. The 2025 U.S. Utility Digital Experience Study reveals that while some utilities are successfully leveraging digital platforms, a significant portion have room for improvement.
The Energy Information Administration anticipates that 63 GW of utility-scale generation capacity will be brought online this year, and 81 percent of that capacity will be solar and battery storage, according to a new report. That addition of 63 GW “represents an almost 30-percent increase from 2024 when 48.6 GW of capacity was installed, the largest capacity installation in a single year since 2002.”
Omaha Public Power District is forging ahead with major technology upgrades that will benefit customers. At a recent board of directors committee meeting, OPPD staff outlined the work under way to transition to advanced metering infrastructure. When fully implemented over the next few years, AMI and its surrounding ecosystem will help OPPD identify and pinpoint outages faster and with greater precision.
