Xcel Energy and Itron, Inc. recently entered into an agreement to deploy smart meters across Xcel Energy’s service territory, which will enable collaboration to improve customer experience and utility operations. Xcel Energy plans to deploy distributed intelligence-enabled smart meters across its territory over the next five years. Xcel and Itron plan to offer new services and enhanced customer control by utilizing innovative distributed intelligence applications running on meters.

A new study by SECC finds that consumers are interested in alternative rate plans, but outreach and education are needed to spur enrollments. The main takeaway for utilities is “consumers are interested in alternative rates if they are designed in ways they find understandable and they have a reason to do it,” Patty Durand, president and CEO of SECC, said. The SECC study, Rate Design: What Do Customer Want and Need?, analyzed responses from about 1,100 residential customers and 500 small and medium business customers.

The average cost for U.S. homeowners to install rooftop solar systems fell below $3 per watt for the first time ever this year, according to a report from EnergySage Inc. The Boston-based company, which operates a website allowing customers to solicit bids from multiple solar installers, found average quotes dropped to $2.99 during the first half of the year. That’s 23 percent lower than five years ago, according to EnergySage.

Behind-the-meter resources are increasingly being brought online and several utilities want to capitalize on the trend. The key, according to Tesla Energy's former lead on products, is giving customers a simple process to add any DERs they want and to give utilities visibility and control of that process. Arch Rao created Span after leaving Tesla in 2018 and launched a flagship product last week that would incorporate those attributes into a single device — replacing one that exists in every home: the electric panel.

Google announced a package of renewables deals recently totaling 1,600 MW, which the tech behemoth says is the largest corporate renewables purchase in history. Made up of 18 deals, Google’s projects will be built across the U.S., Europe and Chile. The company said the purchases will increase its total wind and solar agreements by more than 40 percent. The ambitious announcement comes just a day ahead of planned walkouts at the company, with hundreds of Google employees expected to join a global “Climate Strike” protesting a lack of action on climate change.

The power system’s growing need for flexible load and customers’ rising demand for backup power are driving new partnerships between utilities and providers of customer-sited resources across the Northeast. Vermont's Green Mountain Power is leading this transition toward distributed energy resources as grid assets. But others are right behind.