Bankruptcy

A Wood Mackenzie Business

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11.18.20 Grid Edge 2

Patti Poppe, now CEO of CMS Energy, will take the helm of California's largest utility as it struggles to rebuild trust, improve safety and strengthen its finances. (Credit: PG&E)

PG&E Picks New CEO to Lead It Through Post-Bankruptcy Challenges

Patti Poppe, now CEO of Michigan utility CMS Energy, will seek to revamp PG&E’s safety programs, prevent wildfires and manage grid outages.

by Jeff St. John

07.30.20 Grid Edge 2

PG&E claims it's on track to meet its 2020 wildfire mitigation goals.

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Claims Progress on Wildfire Safety, Blackout Mitigation

Fire-prevention blackouts will be “smarter, shorter and smaller” this year, CEO Bill Smith says, as the California utility reports its first post-bankruptcy earnings.

by Jeff St. John

07.21.20 Energy 20

Ohio's House Bill 6 will direct billions of dollars to keep FirstEnergy's nuclear plants from closing.

Feds Assert Criminal Conspiracy Aided Passage of FirstEnergy Nuclear Bailout Bill

Federal agents arrested the Ohio house speaker on charges of taking bribes and funneling millions to boost passage of a controversial bill.

by Jeff St. John

07.17.20 Grid Edge 3

Whether PG&E can succeed with its $59 billion restructuring plan will depend on its ability to prevent future wildfires, analysts say.

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire

Weeks after exiting bankruptcy caused by massive fire liabilities, California’s biggest utility faces another wildfire lawsuit.

by Jeff St. John

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06.16.20 Solar 4

PetersenDean installs in several states including California and Hawaii. Credit: PetersenDean

Solar Installer PetersenDean Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Cites Coronavirus

The pandemic racks up more pain for the solar industry, but PetersenDean installations had been in decline for years.

by Emma Foehringer Merchant

05.29.20 Grid Edge 1

PG&E's bankruptcy plan relies on raising billions — and not starting any more wildfires.

California Clears PG&E Bankruptcy Plan as Critics Call for Public Takeover

PG&E must grapple with three urgent questions as it prepares to leave bankruptcy.

by Jeff St. John

05.21.20 Grid Edge 5

Smoky air over San Francisco Bay. PG&E will look for a longer-term solution to its blackout problem in 2021.

PG&E’s Plan to Mitigate Blackouts This Wildfire Season: Lots More Diesel Generators

Stymied in its attempts to build gas-backed microgrids and running out of time, the California utility will again turn to a low-tech solution.

by Jeff St. John

05.06.20 Grid Edge 6

The coronavirus pandemic has complicated PG&E's wildfire mitigation efforts.

Why California Residents Could See Even More Blackouts This Wildfire Season

Utility PG&E may need to rely more heavily on “last-resort” power outages during this year’s upcoming wildfire season.

by Jeff St. John

04.21.20 Grid Edge 2

PG&E will face the threat of state takeover under a bankruptcy plan proposed by California regulators this week.

California Regulator Sets Terms for PG&E to Exit Bankruptcy

The ground is being laid for Pacific Gas & Electric to re-emerge from bankruptcy in June, with the threat of state takeover hanging over its head.

by Jeff St. John

03.17.20 Grid Edge 2

California has not let go of its demands for increased oversight on PG&E.

PG&E Wins Court Approval for $23B Bankruptcy Plan as Coronavirus Roils Markets

Plunging financinal markets push California Gov. Newsom to yield on his objections to PG&E’s proposed financing arrangements.

by Jeff St. John

02.18.20 Grid Edge 0

PG&E says it can meet a June deadline to emerge from bankruptcy, despite massive losses from wildfire settlements.

PG&E Reports $7.7B Loss in 2019, Pledges to Meet June Bankruptcy Deadline

The California utility absorbs $25 billion in wildfire charges and promotes plans to improve safety and fend off a state takeover.

by Jeff St. John

02.11.20 Solar 12

A Real Goods staff photo from 1990, with John Schaeffer second from left. (Photo courtesy of John Schaeffer)

From Backwoods to Bankrupt: The Rise and Fall of Real Goods Solar

From “hippies in the woods” to a pre-SolarCity IPO, Real Goods Solar was a pioneer in the U.S. industry. It quietly filed for bankruptcy in January.

by Julian Spector

02.10.20 Grid Edge 2

Led by PG&E, California's utilities plan to spend billions on grid-hardening efforts. (Credit: Jeff Turner/Flickr)

California Utilities Look to Spend $10B Reducing Threat of Grid-Sparked Fires

California’s big utilities have different investment plans with the same goal: preventing fires and limiting blackouts.

by Jeff St. John

01.24.20 Energy 2

Newsom is demanding financial and safety guarantees from PG&E. (Gage Skidmore, Flickr/Creative Commons)

California Governor Still Opposes PG&E’s Bankruptcy Exit, Despite Bondholder Accord

PG&E is moving closer to reemerging from bankruptcy, but California’s governor is not yet sold on the details.

by Jeff St. John

Year-End Developments in PG&E’s Bankruptcy: Clashing Short-Term and Long-Term Demands

GTM Squared

Year-End Developments in PG&E’s Bankruptcy: Clashing Short-Term and Long-Term Demands

A dispute with California’s governor over its bankruptcy plan underscores the disconnect between PG&E’s short-term financial imperatives and the state’s long-term energy resiliency needs.

by Jeff St. John | December 19, 2019

12.16.19 Energy 4

California's largest utility is still looking for a viable way out of bankruptcy.

Can PG&E Realistically Deliver on California Governor’s Demands?

California governor’s decision to reject PG&E’s reorganization plan has left the bankrupt utility scrambling to craft a new one.

by Jeff St. John

10.28.19 7

A number of cities and counties are mulling their post-bankruptcy options for a public takeover.

Pressure Mounts for Public Control of PG&E as Shares Hit Record Low

A public takeover of California’s largest utility might have been unthinkable a year ago. The equation is changing quickly.

by Jeff St. John

10.22.19 Grid Edge 2

PG&E says grid reconfiguration, weather forecasting and backup power systems play roles in fire-prevention outages.

PG&E Outlines Path to Easing Future Power Grid Outages

The California utility’s flawed safety outage angered political leaders, but some of its grid investments are bearing fruit.

by Jeff St. John

Can California Fine-Tune the Blunt Tool of Fire-Prevention Power Outages?

GTM Squared

Can California Fine-Tune the Blunt Tool of Fire-Prevention Power Outages?

Northern California’s blackout caused widespread disruption, but it’s hard to argue with the fundamental premise of PG&E’s decision.

by Jeff St. John | October 18, 2019

09.26.19 Solar 3

$100 million fund marks CalCom’s first foray into owning the systems it develops. (Credit: CalCom)

CalCom Energy’s $100M Fund Targets Farms for Solar-Battery Systems

In a state facing grid outages, the agriculture sector solar-storage developer sees opportunities in on-site resilience.

by Jeff St. John

09.09.19 Grid Edge 1

Utility Pacific Gas & Electric outlined a reorganization plan Monday. (Shutterstock)

PG&E Pledges to Honor Renewable Contracts in Bankruptcy Plan

California utility’s $18 billion pledge for wildfire victims faces scrutiny, but legacy renewable contract holders are breathing a sigh of relief.

by Jeff St. John

09.09.19 Energy 5

San Francisco city officials have offered $2.5 billion to bankrupt utility PG&E to take over its grid assets.

San Francisco Offers $2.5B to Take Over Its Share of PG&E’s Grid

A longstanding dispute over grid infrastructure has morphed into a plan to take over wires from bankrupt utility.

by Jeff St. John

08.09.19 Energy 4

PG&E has wrangled a discount on five new projects that are still in development.

PG&E Pledges to Keep All Power Purchase Agreements Despite Bankruptcy

A few developers have accepted a 10 percent pay cut in California to gain certainty that their projects can move forward.

by Julian Spector

07.11.19 Grid Edge 20

Lawmakers in Sacramento have finalized wildfire legislation in the final days of the session to maintain grid safety and utility credit ratings.

California Assembly Passes $21B Wildfire Fund for Utilities

Gov. Newsom promises to sign bill meant to save the state’s other big utilities from following PG&E into bankruptcy, and to impose a new fire safety regime.

by Jeff St. John

06.10.19 Policy 19

California's renewables market could take a hit if PG&E is allowed to walk away from legacy PPAs.

PG&E’s Bankruptcy Judge Leaves Door Open to Shedding Renewables Contracts

The bankrupt California utility’s plan to renegotiate expensive legacy PPAs with developers wins a legal victory—but an appeal looks likely.

by Jeff St. John

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

What the Coming Wave of Distributed Energy Resources Means for the US Grid

Extreme Weather Keeps Maxing Out the Grid

A Wartime Plan for Electrifying America

An Island’s Path to 100% Renewables

Greentech Media Chronicled Clean Energy Before It Was Cool

Are Batteries at a Turning Point?

Vestas Ventures Makes First Investment With Stake in Wooden Tower Start-Up

Vestas Launches World’s Largest Turbines as 'Big 3' Competition Ramps Up

BP, RWE and EnBW Win Big in UK Offshore Wind Leasing Round

How Cheap and Abundant Can Clean Power Get?

Climate Fintech Startup Atmos Financial Puts Savings to Work for Clean Energy

Could Chile’s Auction Help Save CSP From Oblivion?

Bankruptcy

PG&E Picks New CEO to Lead It Through Post-Bankruptcy Challenges

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Claims Progress on Wildfire Safety, Blackout Mitigation

Feds Assert Criminal Conspiracy Aided Passage of FirstEnergy Nuclear Bailout Bill

Post-Bankruptcy PG&E Faces Lawsuit for Its Role in Causing the 2019 Kincade Wildfire

Looking for Fixes to What Broke the Texas Power Grid

Hawaii’s Bold Step Into Utility Performance-Based Ratemaking

Solar Will Be Cheapest Form of Electricity Across US by 2030, Plus Other PV Trends

Solar Installer PetersenDean Files for Bankruptcy Protection, Cites Coronavirus

California Clears PG&E Bankruptcy Plan as Critics Call for Public Takeover

PG&E’s Plan to Mitigate Blackouts This Wildfire Season: Lots More Diesel Generators

Why California Residents Could See Even More Blackouts This Wildfire Season

California Regulator Sets Terms for PG&E to Exit Bankruptcy

PG&E Wins Court Approval for $23B Bankruptcy Plan as Coronavirus Roils Markets

PG&E Reports $7.7B Loss in 2019, Pledges to Meet June Bankruptcy Deadline

From Backwoods to Bankrupt: The Rise and Fall of Real Goods Solar

California Utilities Look to Spend $10B Reducing Threat of Grid-Sparked Fires

California Governor Still Opposes PG&E’s Bankruptcy Exit, Despite Bondholder Accord

Year-End Developments in PG&E’s Bankruptcy: Clashing Short-Term and Long-Term Demands

Can PG&E Realistically Deliver on California Governor’s Demands?

Pressure Mounts for Public Control of PG&E as Shares Hit Record Low

PG&E Outlines Path to Easing Future Power Grid Outages

Can California Fine-Tune the Blunt Tool of Fire-Prevention Power Outages?

CalCom Energy’s $100M Fund Targets Farms for Solar-Battery Systems

PG&E Pledges to Honor Renewable Contracts in Bankruptcy Plan

San Francisco Offers $2.5B to Take Over Its Share of PG&E’s Grid

PG&E Pledges to Keep All Power Purchase Agreements Despite Bankruptcy

California Assembly Passes $21B Wildfire Fund for Utilities

PG&E’s Bankruptcy Judge Leaves Door Open to Shedding Renewables Contracts