Load Management, Efficiency & Demand Response
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OpinionPuerto Rico’s power grid is ‘suspended between two realities,’ top utility regulator says
Affordability, reliability and the need to restore public confidence almost a decade after Hurricane Maria are top concerns, writes PREB Chairman Edison Avilés.
By Edison Avilés • May 22, 2026 -
Permission granted by WIRES
FERC Commissioner Chang is ‘not thinking about’ breaking up PJM
“I'm interested in the successful continued operation of PJM, but definitely I want to help them get through this period,” FERC Commissioner Judy Chang told Utility Dive. She called the proposed NextEra-Dominion merger “interesting.”
By Diana DiGangi • May 21, 2026 -
Explore the Trendline➔
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TrendlineTop 5 Stories from Utility Dive
Power demand is rising amid dramatic shifts in federal energy policy, but technology and markets continue to push the grid toward cleaner, more distributed resources.
By Utility Dive staff -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Financing for California’s signature virtual power plant remains uncertain
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed funding the Demand Side Grid Support program through this year before moving participants to a separate, utility-run framework. Clean energy groups call the proposal costly and counterproductive.
By Brian Martucci • May 20, 2026 -
Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
Data centers could be 33% of commercial building electricity use by 2050: EIA
In one modeled scenario, the Energy Information Administration found server electricity consumption in 2050 will be more than 16 times what it was in 2020.
By Diana DiGangi • May 19, 2026 -
Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
Pennsylvania releases ‘first-of-its-kind’ large-load model tariff
The guidelines call for utilities to charge large-load customers for upgrades that “would not have been needed ‘but for’ the interconnection” of that customer, “irrespective of whether other customers will benefit” from the infrastructure.
By Meris Lutz • Updated May 18, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
OpinionWhy is the US walking away from energy efficiency?
Policymakers should set strong energy efficiency standards and reinstate tax incentives for households and businesses to make upgrades, writes Ben Evans at the U.S. Green Building Council.
By Ben Evans • May 13, 2026 -
US annual electricity consumption to grow 55% by 2050: NEMA
The group representing electrical equipment manufacturers expects data center energy consumption to grow 300% over the next 10 years.
By Robert Walton • May 13, 2026 -
Permission granted by Kraken
Sponsored by KrakenModern billing systems put more power behind utility rates
Rate design can reduce grid costs, but first utilities need upgraded billing systems.
By Galen Erickson, Kurt Coutain, Emma Rodvien • May 11, 2026 -
The image by Eversource NH is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
Eversource CEO: ‘We are resisting data centers’
Data centers are of “no value to our residential customer — actually, any customer,” said Eversource Energy CEO Joe Nolan. “It's only going to drive up the price of energy.”
By Diana DiGangi • May 8, 2026 -
Courtesy of UNFI
Electric truck fleets could push down residential rates by 2035: report
Medium- and heavy-duty fleet electrification in California and Georgia could reduce residential rates modestly, E3’s analysis found, but proactive, measured investments in grid upgrades are essential.
By Brian Martucci • May 7, 2026 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
EDAM is ‘solid and stable’ so far, says CAISO
The Extended Day-Ahead Market’s prices are falling within expected ranges, with steady transfer volumes in its footprint, according to the California Independent System Operator. “Battery energy storage is now a major player on the Western grid,” said CAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer.
By Diana DiGangi • May 7, 2026 -
Bill Pugliano via Getty Images
TXU Energy EV charging program could work in other competitive markets: ChargeScape CEO
Ford electric vehicle drivers get 15 hours per day of “free” home charging under a special retail plan in Texas. The automaker says it shifted 515 MWh of energy to off-peak periods in 2025.
By Brian Martucci • May 6, 2026 -
Getty Images
‘Supplemental’ municipal utility begins solar-and-storage installs in Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility will use locally sited solar, batteries and other resources to improve reliability and lower costs for subscribers, city officials say.
By Brian Martucci • May 5, 2026 -
Megan Varner via Getty Images
Southern Co. electricity sales soar on 42% data center growth
The company has 28 large load projects representing 11 GW under contract, and Georgia Power’s first-quarter capital expenditures increased year over year from $1.6 billion to $2 billion.
By Diana DiGangi • May 1, 2026 -
Getty Images
Octopus Energy, Lunar Energy roll out battery-enabled electricity plans in Texas
It’s the latest Texas program to offer customers a deeply discounted battery that provides grid support as well as home backup power.
By Brian Martucci • April 29, 2026 -
Courtesy of Salt River Project
TVA, Plus Power to deploy 200 MW/800 MWh BESS in Alabama
Crawfish Creek would be one of the first grid-scale battery projects in TVA territory and a significant down payment toward its board-approved plan to deploy up to 1.5 GW of energy storage by 2029.
By Brian Martucci • April 28, 2026 -
Permission granted by Base Power
Base Power partnership to mitigate price spikes, load peaks for South Texas co-op, CEO says
The 50-MW distributed battery deployment could check Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative’s power costs, CEO Darren Schauer told Utility Dive.
By Brian Martucci • April 22, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Congress presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star, permitting reform
Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t offer plans for DOE’s full takeover of the Energy Star program. He agreed to work with Congress on methane rules and permitting reform.
By Diana DiGangi • April 17, 2026 -
Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
Wright defends actions on coal plants, funding cuts in testy House hearing
When pressed, the energy secretary said that money for home energy efficiency rebate programs, which has been frozen since last year, would “probably” be released in a “few weeks.”
By Diana DiGangi • April 16, 2026 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’
“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.
By Ethan Howland • Updated April 17, 2026 -
Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
Maryland regulators weigh investor-owned utilities’ flexible load proposals
Public Service Commission staff characterized the proposals as a good start but said they needed “additional clarity” to ensure reliable, measurable and well-located grid benefits.
By Brian Martucci • April 15, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Deep DiveAs EV load grows, utilities use managed charging to harness flexibility, lower costs
Active managed charging can delay costly system upgrades while saving individual customers money on their bills, utilities, automakers and aggregators say, but a lack of standardized data-sharing is slowing adoption.
By Herman K. Trabish • Updated April 10, 2026 -
Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
Virginia grid utilization bill set to become law
A growing body of research suggests increased grid utilization has broad benefits for utilities and customers, but experts say advanced metering technology is needed to unlock its full potential.
By Brian Martucci • April 8, 2026 -
Opinion
Turning the AC-DC switch: A legacy technology has reached its limits.
AC is no longer the preferred current for many applications. A transition is underway, but it calls for new technology to be deliberately deployed, writes Shaun Walsh at Peak Nano.
By Shaun Walsh • April 7, 2026 -
Courtesy of Salt River Project
Minnesota approves Xcel’s utility-owned battery program
Xcel will own up to 200 MW of energy storage under the second phase of its Capacity*Connect program. Solar industry groups and others called it a missed opportunity to include independent developers.
By Robert Walton • April 6, 2026
