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Utilities

Wholesale electricity prices were lower and less volatile last year

by Samantha Fields
Jan 16, 2025
But how does that show up in your electricity bill?
Wholesale electricity prices have fallen since 2023, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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If you heat your home with gas, brace yourself for an expensive January

by Caleigh Wells
Jan 1, 2025
Natural gas futures saw their biggest jump in three years as a cold front hits the U.S. Geopolitical tensions don't help.
Cold weather spurs consumption of natural gas and can boost prices.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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A Warmer World

Climate change is leading to higher utility bills — and not just because of rising temps

by Samantha Fields
Sep 10, 2024
Regulators approved more than $9.7 billion in utility rate increases nationally last year.
Building solar and wind farms, as well as transmission lines to connect them to the grid, is pricey. Utilities are passing a lot of these expenses on to ratepayers.
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why does my electric company need to advertise?

by Janet Nguyen
May 3, 2024
Sometimes it's for public service announcements, sometimes it's for public relations after a scandal. Either way, some states are cracking down.
Utilities advertise to sell products, make public service announcements, and improve their image.
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In fire-prone California, experts push utilities to monitor the riskiest equipment on the grid

by Lily Jamali
Jan 6, 2022
Power lines and equipment have sparked devastating blazes. Now companies are asked to take stock of their aging infrastructure.
Utilities have been making upgrades to their systems. Above, workers re-anchor a pole that suspends power lines outside Acton, California.
Lily Jamali/Marketplace
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Why don't American cities have more public bathrooms?

by Kai Ryssdal and Andie Corban
Dec 1, 2021
Writer Elizabeth Yuko explains why Americans use toilets in private businesses instead of those maintained by the government.
"9/11 really was the final nail in the coffin for a lot of the remaining public restrooms and a lot have been closed since," says Elizabeth Yuko, a contributing writer for Bloomberg CityLab.
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The pandemic slowed global efforts to expand access to electricity

by Samantha Fields
Sep 29, 2021
According to a new IEA report, the pandemic stalled progress the most in sub-Saharan Africa.
A report shows that the pandemic hindered efforts to establish access to electricity around the globe, as governments diverted resources to fighting COVID-19.
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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Why not bury all our power lines?

by Andy Uhler
Sep 1, 2021
The upfront cost is high and the cost-benefit calculation depends and the region, experts say.
Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images
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California's battery-supported grid off to a slow start

by Caroline Champlin
Jul 13, 2021
California’s grid operator hoped new battery storage could prevent rolling blackouts. Installation has been delayed.
The sun shines over towers carrying electical lines in South San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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California blackouts trigger debate about electric grid resilience

by Andy Uhler
Aug 28, 2020
A heat wave and record levels of electricity demand are straining infrastructure.
Investments in grids were already falling, and COVID-19 has slowed down upgrades even further.
Brent Stirton/Getty Images
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