Stakeholders square off over proposed DOE appliance program changes

Manufacturers say the changes would create a more predictable process to set appliance standards but should not “apply retroactively to standards already finalized.” Efficiency advocates say potential energy savings will be lost.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 31, 2026

Nevada ‘misses an opportunity’ in performance-based DER tariffs: advocate

The new demand response frameworks bring the state in line with other pay-for-performance virtual power plants while keeping NV Energy in the driver’s seat.

By Brian Martucci • Updated Aug. 28, 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

PacifiCorp to suspend California energy efficiency programs under proposed settlement

The programs have “historically not provided cost-effectiveness benefits to ratepayers and, indeed, show a decline in performance in recent years,” said the California Public Utilities Commission’s Public Advocates Office.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 25, 2026

What makes a customer portal work for employees? These 4 essentials.

Utility portals are framed as customer experience tools, but they also improve how frontline work is done.

Aug. 24, 2026

ERCOT aims to complete Texas governor’s data center audit by December

The pause on new data center interconnections could impact the Electric Reliability Council of Texas’ upcoming long-term load forecast and reliability assessment, officials said Thursday.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 21, 2026

VPP value proposition expands to affordability, reliability and resilience

Robust compensation and metering, along with strong customer protections, are needed to drive participation in utility virtual power plant programs, according to experts.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 19, 2026

Home buyers want more information on energy usage. Utilities can help.

By positioning themselves as trusted experts for both buyers and real estate agents, utilities can speed the adoption of efficient grid technologies, say residential energy experts.

By Nathan Shannon and Scott Rosenberg • Aug. 19, 2026

Northwest council proposes 11 GW of new generation, 5 GW storage by 2032

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council estimates the portfolio for its Ninth Power Plan would have a fixed cost of $2.3 billion in 2032.

By Marlene Wilden • Aug. 18, 2026

Hyundai unifies vehicle V2X capabilities with AllDayEnergy entity

The global service signals a consistent energy management experience across Hyundai, Kia and Genesis EVs, and better use of bidirectional charging functionality. 

By Bengt Halvorson • Aug. 18, 2026

Beyond the home meter: How utilities can eliminate the EV ‘renter’s penalty’

Tying affordability measures to the customer rather than a home meter can ensure that predictable charging costs are available regardless of housing type, write experts at GRID Alternatives.

By Zach Franklin and Linda Khamoushian • Aug. 18, 2026

Quantum computing is coming fast. Are utilities ready?

“The load profile is different from anything utilities have planned for before,” said Aparna Prabhakar, chief strategy and sustainability officer, energy management, for Schneider Electric.

By Herman K. Trabish • Updated Aug. 28, 2026

Texas hits new peak demand record, but supply constraints will limit growth

Ascend Analytics says more than 80% of new large loads seeking interconnection will not have matching generation online by 2030, even as data centers and industrial demand continue to surge.

By Marlene Wilden • Aug. 12, 2026

Evergy has 3 GW of large loads signed and a 5-GW generation pipeline

The company is in “advanced discussions” with large-load customers representing another 1 to 2 GW, CEO David Campbell said during a second-quarter earnings call.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 11, 2026

California DER wholesale market participation could grow 2+ GW from CAISO ‘accounting change’: advocate

Behind-the-meter batteries and other aggregated DERs could get another lift from a related rulemaking at the California Public Utilities Commission, but a final ruling is unlikely before next year, a regulatory expert told Utility Dive.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 5, 2026

Battery-eligible New Jersey VPP program begins to take shape

Utility-owned storage could help mitigate grid congestion, a utility manager said at a July stakeholder meeting. Another said customer-centric program design is crucial to reducing attrition.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 4, 2026

$700M microgrid bill has state energy office, electrical manufacturer support

The bill would make microgrids and distributed energy resources eligible for state energy program grants and establish state-run grid resilience programs.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 4, 2026

How PG&E scaled home energy reports into wide-ranging energy reduction and bill savings

Learn how this approach can support savings, affordability and peak flexibility.

By Vanessa Richter • Aug. 3, 2026

Texas approves AI data center co-location next to wind farm, with curtailment caveats

A final order in the case could offer an early template for other large behind-the-meter loads, requiring rapid curtailment during grid emergencies while limiting participation in demand response programs.

By Marlene Wilden • July 30, 2026

V2G could deliver 15 times more value than one-way managed EV charging: report

The U.S. fleet of bidirectional-capable electric vehicles is growing, and regulatory reforms could help utilities unlock $7 billion in potential value, according to an E3 analysis.

By Brian Martucci • July 29, 2026

BNEF chip-based model pegs US data center demand at 207 GW by 2033

A base model anticipates U.S. data center demand of about 118 GW by 2030. As potential demand and proposed data center size both grow, so does the complexity in forecasting, analysts said.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2026

How procurement strategy can strengthen electrification programs

How smarter procurement can reduce costs and strengthen electrification programs.

By Troy Sherman, Director of Products, Franklin Energy • July 27, 2026

Ford, Global Power Products debut home backup solution

More than 800 electric utilities have approved GPP’s GenerLink transfer switch, which provides backup power for outlets and hardwired appliances at significantly lower cost than a standby generator, Ford says.

By Brian Martucci • July 22, 2026

3 practical steps to ensure the US industrial boom runs on electricity

Long-term electricity procurement, on-site generation, efficiency and flexibility can give manufacturers more ways to manage their energy bills, writes the World Wildlife Fund’s Cihang Yuan.

By Cihang Yuan • July 21, 2026

$215B in annual energy cost savings starts with heat pumps: ACEEE

Building and other electric efficiency measures would reduce growing peak demand by 20% on average through 2050, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

By Robert Freedman • July 21, 2026

What data center developers need to know about FERC’s large load directives

The June 18 show cause orders finally take aim at the load interconnection mess. But the customers who get power faster will be the ones who show up ready to flex, writes Shalin Savalia, a senior electrical engineer.

By Shalin Savalia • July 16, 2026