Duke Energy to stay course on data center-fueled growth plan after ‘historic’ election

The company’s large-load pipeline of 15.4 GW has remained virtually unchanged since the first quarter of 2026 as it pursues a $103 billion spending plan heavily focused on new natural gas generation.

By Emma Penrod • Nov. 6, 2026

Exelon, Invenergy complaints at FERC seek capacity market changes

Exelon asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order PJM to adopt a “prompt” capacity auction, while Invenergy wants the Midcontinent grid operator to let HVDC merchant lines receive capacity payments.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 5, 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

APS expects sales to double by 2041, plans extending coal use to 2038

Arizona Public Service expects peak demand will grow about 3.4% annually over the next 15 years, driven by industry and data centers, the utility said in an integrated resource plan filed Friday with regulators.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 4, 2026

Trump ban on foreign grid components sparks industry concern over cost, practicality

Stakeholders applauded the order’s intent to secure the grid but said restrictions based on geography, rather than function and capability, miss the point and threaten investment.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 4, 2026

Caterpillar expands production of engines and turbines to meet data center demand

The heavy machinery and power equipment maker saw its order backlog reach $78 billion during the third quarter, almost double what it was a year ago.

By Nathan Owens • Nov. 3, 2026

PSEG Power plans 200-MW nuclear uprate as company eyes data center deals

But one of the units at the Salem plant in New Jersey, which is jointly owned with Constellation Energy, faces an extended outage to deal with degraded equipment, according to federal filings.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 3, 2026

PJM’s revised data center backstop procurement plan reduces utility risks: ICF

The planned procurement could be for as little as 630 MW, down from an initial 6,800-MW target, after utilities in the PJM Interconnection’s footprint lowered their large-load forecasts, Jefferies analysts said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Nov. 4, 2026

Hitachi’s nuclear revenue rises as SMR delivery date approaches

The bulk of the Japanese conglomerate’s Energy segment business is in electrical grid equipment. Sales are strong, but inflation and long delivery timelines bear watching, company executives said.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 30, 2026

States must take a critical eye to gas plants proposed over clean energy

The key question for regulators is no longer whether utilities can simply find a reason to install another gas turbine, write experts from Environmental Defense Fund and Minnesota’s CURE.

By Hudson Kingston and Will Scott • Oct. 30, 2026

GE Vernova in $9B deal to buy high-voltage manufacturer as gas turbine orders slow

The acquisition of Trench Group will help GE Vernova capitalize on rising electricity demand, company executives said.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 29, 2026

AEP increases investment plan 30% on generation, transmission spending

American Electric Power’s contracted large loads jumped 22%, to 84 GW, mainly on a 10.4-GW data center in Ohio being developed by SB Energy, company officials said Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 29, 2026

Chinese-linked solar developer loses appeal over Texas grid interconnection

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said Texas has a “free lane” to enforce restrictions on foreign-owned companies’ access to the state’s electric grid in a ruling that could have implications for other states and market participants.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 29, 2026

FirstEnergy data center pipeline increases to 26 GW in Q3

Two FirstEnergy utilities reserved combined-cycle turbines for a 1.2-GW data center-focused project in West Virginia and issued a solicitation for an additional 3 GW, company officials said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 29, 2026

CMS Energy CEO predicts data center ‘progress’ after midterms

Garrick Rochow blamed political “spin” for permitting setbacks in an earnings call. He did not address the more than $300 million the utility says it has spent to keep an aging coal plant running under DOE ‘emergency’ orders.

By Brian Martucci • Oct. 28, 2026

DOE announces $10.1B in loans to Constellation, Alliant, for 3.7 GW

Both loan packages could be used to finance uprates at existing generation facilities, which Energy Secretary Chris Wright called “commonsense” energy policy.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2026

Capacity, clarity, cash and compliance: the 4 C’s of electric co-op funding success

Compliance is where cooperative utilities tend to struggle the most, and the latest federal funding programs have introduced even tougher terms, writes Fedsprout CEO Aalap Shah.

By Aalap Shah • Oct. 27, 2026

PJM urges FERC to dismiss Mon Power ‘fishing expedition’ seeking to recoup $145M

FirstEnergy’s Monongahela Power contends that the PJM Interconnection’s advanced scheduling of gas-fired power plants during Winter Storm Fern may have violated the grid operator’s rules.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 27, 2026

CenterPoint expands 10-year capital plan by $4B to handle load growth

The Houston-based utility’s investment plan through 2035 stands at almost $71 billion, and the company is accelerating some investments to support growing customer demand.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2026

Clean energy groups, states oppose MISO’s large load-generation study plan

The grid operator’s proposed fast-track study process for large loads with generation lacks ratepayer protections and favors vertically integrated utilities over independent power producers, critics said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Oct. 26, 2026

Trump eschews tariffs for trade talks on wind turbine imports

Following a Section 232 probe, the president tasked cabinet officials to engage in negotiations and report on their progress within 180 days.

By Phil Neuffer • Oct. 23, 2026

The capacity market crisis is a design problem, not a verdict on competition

PJM's capacity price spikes are a symptom of a market that drifted too far toward spot-price dependence, not an indication that competition itself does not work, write Atlantic Council experts.

By Stephen Greene and Frank Willey • Oct. 21, 2026

LS Power COO sees sweeping power sector investing needs: gas, renewables, transmission and more

“The demand growth we're experiencing today is real,” LS Power’s Darpan Kapadia said. “The supply side is going to take time to catch up, and the markets are screaming that.”

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 20, 2026

AEP signs 960-MW Indiana nuclear pact with Amazon, X-energy

If the project is developed, Amazon would purchase the power under a long-term contract that covers the cost of the facility and its operations, the companies said.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 19, 2026

AI in nuclear operations: The shift from adoption to operating value

Nuclear utility AI results have been mixed across the industry, but there are clear trends among those finding value.

By Luke Martin, Alex Tylecote • Oct. 19, 2026

FERC proposes easing regulatory pathway for gas pipeline, LNG projects

“The only current restriction on getting American gas is our ability to get the gas to market and the infrastructure bottlenecks,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2026