When utility crews team up to restore power after major disasters like Hurricane Sandy, keeping track of their own vehicles can be tricky, let alone monitoring where other crews are. Clevest Solutions has launched a new version of its locator software to make that chore easier and more efficient.

Considering the various beatings wind and solar took last year from bottoming markets, product oversupply and controversy over production tax credits, it seems unlikely that investment in the renewables sector is going to take off. But Bloomberg New Energy Finance thinks otherwise; find out why.

A new report from a market research firm forecasts that the grid-scale energy storage market will blast off and grow nearly 4,000% by 2017. We're all for optimism and agree that energy storage is on a growth path. But 4,000% growth in four years? Click to see what you make of it.

That the smart grid has become broadly accepted is certainly a good thing. But it's not enough, says the executive director of the International Energy Agency. While there are bright spots, she says we aren't moving fast enough in areas like R&D or taking full advantage of readily available tools like energy efficiency. See if you agree.

As electric utilities weigh the pros and cons of communications technologies, choosing a common communications architecture for all applications can eliminate device duplication and increase capability. Ambient VP Donald Pollock argues in today's guest column that IP-based communication will become the norm because it provides that common architecture.

A BRIDGE Energy survey of more than 20,000 utility employees has some troubling findings. Even though most utilities get that they need to improve their customer service strategies, most are finding significant obstacles in the way. Click to see where the problem areas are.

Silver Spring and Sensus are battling for communications supremacy in the UK's massive smart meter rollout. At stake is a piece of Britain's $18.5 billion initiative, which calls for deploying 53 million smart meters by 2019.

A week after Walmart said it was changing the way it made and bought power, here comes Google. It is equally determined to alter the business model. But in Google's case, it is not solely concerned with itself. Click to see what the Internet giant is proposing.

Ford Motor Company has teamed with a major homebuilder to showcase EVs, solar power systems and smart appliances at a net zero model home in San Marcos, California. Net zero homes aren't a new concept, but the day a substantial number of homes have both solar and EVs will be yet another game-changer for utilities. Find out why.

In the first phase of its life, Nest Labs used its highly successful thermostat's learning capabilities to adapt to customer preferences. Click to read about the company's latest move, which is to roll out a suite of features and programs of value to utilities.

Germany is expected to launch an energy storage subsidy next month. A lot of people will be watching to see if the country can achieve the same level of success with its storage subsidy as it did with its solar feed-in tariffs.

Other issues may have eclipsed energy news out of D.C. this week, but there are three developments worth watching: new legislation for a national energy efficiency policy, a House vote on revamped cybersecurity legislation and Ernest Moniz got a step closer to becoming the next head of DOE.

The announcement of a French and Japanese effort to create a new powerline communications protocol of their own has us wondering... why spend the time and money to reinvent what we already have?

We told you about the Wall Street Journal editorial warning that California's renewables mandates could have bad consequences, and about the strong response to it from the state's PUC. Today we've got another perspective that we think you'll find of interest, this time from Ted Craver, Chairman, President and CEO of Edison International.

A couple of big players got tapped to supply the full-meal deal after running successful utility pilots. A company in India landed a $60 million contract to build substations in Iraq. Click for details on those deals and the rest of this week's smart grid wins.

As part of its gridSMART program, AEP Ohio is investigating the impacts of several new distribution technologies, including Volt/VAR optimization, energy storage, DR, EVs and distributed solar PV. Working with Battelle, they developed what looks to be one of the most powerful simulation tools yet.

During Hurricane Sandy, even utilities with only partially complete smart grid implementations improved and streamlined outage management. Smart grid technology gave utilities greater visibility into affected areas with two-way communications. As this Silver Spring Networks white paper details, with real-time insight, the smart grid automated key processes, easily locating and rerouting power around trouble spots, reducing unnecessary truck rolls and saving costs.

This white paper from Silver Spring Networks maintains that a single, unified smart grid platform is the best way for municipal utilities to maximize return on investment because it will help them succeed with existing projects and build a foundation that can easily expand. It suggests 10 "must have" requirements munis should consider when choosing their smart grid solution.

Rifle shots damaged a Pacific Gas & Electric substation Tuesday morning, causing the California Independent System Operator to call for power conservation. It's a reminder that with all the current emphasis on cybersecurity, utilities can't overlook physical security.

A lot is riding on a big gray box at a wind farm in Cornwall, UK. The box contains voltage output adjustment equipment that the county in southwest Britain is hoping will get around the need for major reinforcement of the electric grid to accommodate rapidly growing renewable energy generation.