Top electric power sector and utility conferences in 2027

Utility Dive’s curated list of notable events where energy professionals will gather to exchange ideas, demonstrate novel approaches and network for a new era of grid modernization.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 6, 2026

States, renewable developers back MISO’s accelerated interconnection queue plan

“This approach can materially accelerate the processing of legacy queue cycles while preserving MISO’s responsibility to identify and address reliability concerns,” the Organization of MISO States said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 6, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

DOE intends to loan Vistra $4.2B for nuclear fleet improvements

The loan would cover 433 MW of uprates at Vistra’s nuclear plants and preserve around 4 GW of existing capacity to help meet growing demand in the PJM region, said the U.S. Department of Energy.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 6, 2026

Constellation, Google strike 890-MW nuclear deal in PJM

Constellation Energy has signed 20-year power purchase agreements with both Google and Amazon in the last week, supporting almost 1.1 GW of nuclear expansions.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 6, 2026

Amazon, Constellation sign 20-year PPA to expand Maryland nuclear plant

The tech giant and energy producer are backing improvements and renovations at the 1,790-MW Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center, the state’s largest source of clean energy.

By Zoya Mirza • Oct. 5, 2026

Rising interest rates challenge utility financing plans, US Bank managing director says

For utilities, rapidly rising interest rates will make keeping capital expenditures well-balanced “a little more challenging,” said Tim Keller, managing director of U.S. Bank’s power and utilities group.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 5, 2026

MISO proposes fast-track large load, generation study process

The 120-day study process would be available for loads larger than 200 MW and new generation that is in the same local resource zone, which generally consists of individual states.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 5, 2026

FERC rejects TransAlta 202(c) cost-recovery plan for Centralia unit

Only utilities in the Northwest should pay the nearly $20 million in expenses for a 90-day order covering the Centralia unit, and despite the unit’s lack of output, payment is due, the agency said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 2, 2026

FERC chair slams PJM ‘mess’ as country’s largest grid operator delays power auction

PJM had planned to accept offers for backstop power supplies from Sept. 30 through Oct. 21 after falling short of its reserve margin targets. But FERC only partially approved its plan, zeroing in on cost allocation concerns.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 30, 2026

Ameren Missouri files 20-year plan with 10.6 GW of gas additions

Company executives said the plan was designed to ensure a diversity of resources to maintain reliability and manage costs. But environmental advocates said it would significantly increase the utility’s reliance on fossil fuels.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2026

Data center backup power contributes to health risks: report

Federal regulatory actions are allowing on-site generators at data centers and other power plants to release dangerous emissions with fewer checks, according to the Environmental Protection Network.

By Robert Freedman • Sept. 28, 2026

Second federal judge overturns $7B Solar for All cancellation

The decision in a suit brought by Harris County, Texas, follows a similar ruling last week. A Harris County judge called it “a really important victory for energy resilience.”

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 25, 2026

FERC rejects Oklo complaint seeking to reinstate project to PJM’s interconnection study cycle

The decision affects a 750-MW, mixed technology project in Virginia, which Oklo said would be delayed by at least 18 months if it misses the current interconnection cycle.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 25, 2026

States sue Trump administration, developers over offshore wind lease buyouts

Attorneys general from California and a coalition of Northeastern states accused the federal government of violating several laws and the developers of colluding with the administration.

By Diana DiGangi , Meris Lutz • Sept. 24, 2026

California tightens oversight of data center energy use, grid costs

Bills signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom include regulations aimed at ensuring data centers pay for infrastructure needed to serve them and bear a larger share of wildfire mitigation and liability costs.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 22, 2026

North Carolina regulators deny Duke Energy gas turbine request over ‘staggering’ cost, uncertain need

The order called out Duke’s commitment to the White House Ratepayer Protection Pledge, saying the utility had not established the specific extent to which the proposed facility is intended to serve data centers.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 22, 2026

House passes ratepayer protection bill to limit data center cost shifts

The bill would “largely reinforce” a transition that is already underway as more states adopt large-load tariffs and is unlikely to pass the Senate before the midterm elections, according to ClearView Energy Partners.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 17, 2026

EPA scraps Biden power plant GHG rules, moves to eliminate other standards

Rachael Marsh, chief legal officer at the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, said in an emailed statement to Utility Dive that the group supported the repeal of the carbon capture and storage-based standards.

By Meris Lutz , Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 15, 2026

PJM faces 2030 reliability crisis if data center load growth continues: report

In a worst-case scenario, the modeled loss of load expectation is “over 100 times worse than PJM’s planning criterion,” indicating an expectation of “more than 13 days with loss of load events per year,” said the study commissioned by the Pennsylvania PUC.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Sept. 16, 2026

EPA poised to scrap power plant carbon standards

Eliminating federal limits on power-sector emissions could undermine local climate goals and increase risks to infrastructure and public health, city and environmental leaders warn.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 14, 2026

Constellation Energy in deal to buy 609-MW Rhode Island gas plant from Shell

The deal expands Constellation’s ISO New England portfolio. In a separate transaction, Shell acquired a 169-MW Pennsylvania gas portfolio to grow its PJM Interconnection position.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 14, 2026

Court rejects DOE ‘emergency’ order delaying coal plant retirement as overstep

“The Department’s reading of 'emergency' invites frequent federal interventions that are unsupported by the statute and threaten the stability of the energy market,” the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit said in its ruling.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 11, 2026

Unplanned power plant outages fell sharply during 2025/26 winter storms: FERC-NERC report

Improved preparations and interregional power transfers played key roles in avoiding blackouts during bitter cold in early 2026, according to the agency and grid watchdog.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 11, 2026

Google, Xcel, others back MISO’s ‘zero injection’ large-load proposal

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator's proposal would fast-track reviews for generating projects that supply large loads served by the same substation, including colocated loads.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 9, 2026

NextEra secures $1.9B DOE loan for Duane Arnold nuclear restart

A DOE spokesperson told Utility Dive the loan will be repaid with interest to the U.S. taxpayer. "Thanks to President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, hyperscalers, not taxpayers, are paying for the new power generation," they said.

By Robert Walton • Updated Sept. 11, 2026