Georgia Power’s large load pipeline shrinks by 6 GW

Georgia Public Service Commission staff testimony noted data centers are “underperforming expectations” due to lower materialization rates, project cancellations and delays.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 24, 2025

DOE large load interconnection proposal sparks federal-state jurisdiction concerns

State regulators, lawmakers and ratepayer advocates voiced alarm over the department’s interconnection proposal, while the Data Center Coalition offered qualified support.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 24, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

FERC approves PECO-Amazon data center transmission agreement

The pact raises “significant questions” about how the agency and states will protect existing customers from the costs of adding large loads to the grid, FERC Commissioner Judy Chang warned.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 24, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: Power outages stretch, data center load overstated

Winter peak demand is rising faster than resource additions, and a bribery scandal ends with a massive payout.

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 21, 2025

New FERC commissioners say connecting data centers is key priority

The agency also will look at how to streamline permitting for certain liquefied natural gas and hydroelectric projects, per its open meeting on Thursday.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 21, 2025

Texas loan fund tops 3.5 GW of gas capacity secured with latest NRG deal

Greens Bayou is NRG’s third gas project to receive support from the Texas Energy Fund. The company has secured $1.15 billion in low-interest loans to develop about 1.5 GW of capacity.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 21, 2025

Texas is winning the energy war by ignoring the politics

The Lone Star State is demonstrating an affordable and reliable path to achieving American energy resilience that prioritizes practicality over ideology, writes Amperon CEO Sean Kelly.

By Sean Kelly • Nov. 20, 2025

PJM stakeholders fail to agree on data center interconnection rules

The PJM Interconnection’s board may develop a proposal for new rules to interconnect large loads to the grid, but the timing is unclear.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 20, 2025

DOE loans Constellation $1B to restart Three Mile Island nuclear unit

The Baltimore-based company expects to spend about $1.6 billion — about $1,916 per kW — to restart the unit, possibly as soon as in 2027.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2025

Groups sue FERC over MISO, SPP fast-track interconnection programs

The groups contend the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and Southwest Power Pool’s processes give undue advantage to fast-tracked projects and will lead to higher residential ratepayer costs.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 19, 2025

Winter peak demand is rising faster than resource additions: NERC

Batteries and demand response make up the bulk of new resources heading into this winter, the North American Electric Reliability Corp. said Tuesday. Following capacity changes in some markets, wind resources declined.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 19, 2025

Meeting America’s generation challenge: Why smarter permitting matters

Efficiency, predictability, transparency and meaningful stakeholder input should be the principles guiding energy permitting reform, writes American Public Power Association CEO Scott Corwin.

By Scott Corwin • Nov. 18, 2025

Consumers Energy to invest more than $13B in renewables, distribution by 2029

Executives said they expect the U.S. Energy Department to renew the emergency order to keep a coal plant online, emphasizing that the costs will be spread across the region.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 18, 2025

Groups sue FERC over its approval of SPP’s capacity accreditation plan

The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club contend the Southwest Power Pool’s accreditation methodologies improperly favor fossil-fueled power plants.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 18, 2025

NRG aims for 2026 next step in 5.4-GW gas deal with GE Vernova, Kiewit

The company is also set to acquire 12.9 GW of natural gas assets from LS Power early next year, following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the deal.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 17, 2025

Northeast grid operators confident facing winter demand as heating electrification rises

The New England Independent System Operator has said it expects electrification to turn the regional grid to a winter-peaking system sometime in the mid-2030s.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 17, 2025

FERC OKs NRG’s 19 GW purchase of LS Power gas-fired and demand response assets

The pending $12 billion transaction would roughly double NRG Energy’s generating fleet during a power market “supercycle.”

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 17, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: Electricity prices extend rise, regulators rein in data centers

Meanwhile, new renewable generation projects continue to face delays and cancellations.

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 14, 2025

TVA pursues ‘historic’ gas build-out, advanced nuclear

The Tennessee Valley Authority is “undertaking one of the largest new asset campaigns in our history,” CEO Don Moul said, with 3.7 GW of new generation currently under construction.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 13, 2025

Electricity prices to continue rise in 2026: EIA

Electricity demand is also going up, with much of it concentrated in Texas due to “data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities,” said the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 13, 2025

Tribes, conservation groups urge FERC to uphold veto policy on preliminary hydro permits

The U.S. Department of Energy wants the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to stop giving tribes and federal agencies veto power over preliminary permit applications for projects on their land.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 13, 2025

US needs more gas infrastructure, storage to support electric grid: NARUC

A state utility commission task force examining gas-electric sector coordination concluded no changes are necessary to the timing of the markets or to standard contract provisions.

By Robert Walton • Nov. 13, 2025

Constellation Energy looks to demand response to accommodate load growth

A lot of Constellation’s customers have shown interest in demand response products, and the pipeline for that “looks really strong right now,” said Chief Commercial Officer Jim McHugh.

By Diana DiGangi • Nov. 12, 2025

Colorado regulators approve extending life of Comanche 2 coal unit

Xcel’s 750-MW, coal-fired Comanche 3 is offline until at least June, and Colorado peak demand forecasts are rising quickly.

By Robert Walton • Updated Dec. 10, 2025

Vistra CEO says excess capacity in PJM, ERCOT can accommodate flexible loads

Data centers and other large load customers can use on-site backup generation as well as demand response during “super peak” hours, said Jim Burke.

By Ethan Howland • Nov. 10, 2025