The debate is a lively one. Enjoy it. But don’t make wholesale portfolio changes based on what remains at best a difficult, practically impossible task: Guessing the timing and direction of interest rate moves. Read More

A major ruling will expand the transmission grid to allow for more renewable energy, which could accelerate the earnings divide between fossil-fuel heavy utilities and their greener peers. Read More

To get them--at least as far as utilities and dividend-paying Canadian and Australian stocks are concerned--you have to ask questions at our monthly online chat session. Read More

The transition period from the Global Financial Crisis/Great Recession has been a long one. With normalcy will come higher rates. We should prepare for a dramatic reaction. But we should also expect rates to remain well below historic norms. Read More

Facing declining power sales, electric utilities are starting to encourage electric car adoption, which could eventually revitalize the industry’s earnings prospects. Read More

Water utilities provide investors some of the most consistent dividend growth in the market, a fact once again demonstrated during second-quarter earnings-reporting season. Read More

The proposed consolidation of the Kinder complex of midstream energy companies has significant tax consequences for investors who’ve owned Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE: KMP) for the long term. Read More

The first two quarters of 2014 have been solid for US power utilities, helping two essential-service providers whose dividends had been in danger improve their finances and strengthen their balance sheets. Read More

Two big projects have gone over budget and past deadline, but things are back on track. This electric utility operates in a favorable regulatory environment, and economic growth in its service territory is accelerating. At these levels it offers one of the highest yields in the utility space. Read More

After five years of zero payout growth this master limited partnership has raised its distribution each of the past four quarters. And it's on track for 6 percent-plus growth for the medium term. Read More