The distribution grid can be the unlikely hero of affordability

Distributed capacity has turned the distribution grid into a platform for capacity growth and increased grid utilization, not a cost center driving up rates, writes Sparkfund’s Pier LaFarge.

By Pier LaFarge • July 14, 2026

What the U.S. can learn from Australia’s home battery boom

Australia's home battery boom offers the U.S. a blueprint for the data center energy surge.

By Sarah Russell-Smith, PhD, GM of Flex, Octopus Energy US • July 13, 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

Illinois regulators approve ComEd VPP under new clean energy law

The program will discharge power from small batteries during events like the early-July heatwave that pushed PJM Interconnection demand to near-record levels.

By Brian Martucci • July 8, 2026

6 ways to get digital upgrades right for your customers

Overcome these six common challenges when designing your digital front door to improve CX.

By Leah Garris • July 6, 2026

3 home energy providers offer 16.8 GW of distributed capacity to utilities, hyperscalers

An executive for Sunrun said active “distributed power plant” programs like one in Puerto Rico underscore the resource’s potential.

By Brian Martucci • June 24, 2026

Platte River, EnergyHub partner to deploy 39-MW Colorado VPP

Platte River Power Authority plans to achieve 19 MW from customer-owned distributed resources by 2030, with the first virtual power plant programs launching this summer.

By Diana DiGangi • June 24, 2026

K-12 schools can soften energy-cost hikes with performance contracts, Ameresco chief says

The contracts offer a way for school districts to lock in costs as electricity prices rise, says Louis Maltezos, co-president of the energy infrastructure company.

By Joe Burns • June 23, 2026

In wildfire country, every home should be a microgrid

As wildfire risk grows, there are increasing calls to “bury the lines.” Undergrounding has its place, but it's not the only answer, writes Cameron Brooks, executive director of Think Microgrid.

By Cameron Brooks • June 16, 2026

What could save Arizona millions in customer and infrastructure costs? Residential pool pumps.

If Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project customers were to schedule pool pump operations at midday instead of at night, it could shift up to 820 MW into off-peak tariffs, ASU researchers said.

By Vladimir Abdelnour and Nathan Johnson • June 12, 2026

Massachusetts ‘vehicle-to-everything’ demonstration hints at EV batteries’ grid potential

Certain light-duty vehicles have the potential to earn around $3,000 per summer, and school buses $12,000, by enrolling in the state’s virtual power plant, a state program manager said.

By Brian Martucci • June 2, 2026

Access to real-time electricity data should be a basic consumer right

The technology exists and the infrastructure is there. What is missing is a requirement that customers have access to data on their electricity use, writes Joel Hicks at the University of Oregon.

By Joel Hicks • June 1, 2026

How utilities can add capacity in months, not years

For utilities managing surging electricity demand, a scalable, non-wires approach to expanding grid capacity can be deployed in just a few months.

June 1, 2026

New Mexico has the nation’s best DER interconnection policy: report

The state received high marks for its robust energy storage interconnection framework, frequent public reports on its interconnection queue and incorporating IEEE’s technical standard for DER interconnections.

By Brian Martucci • May 28, 2026

What the streaming wars can teach utilities about the AI data center boom

Utilities can avoid making the same mistakes major studios made in the Netflix era, but only if they view the AI boom as a systemwide modernization challenge rather than an overflowing queue of individual projects, writes Abbey O’Brien at Ulteig.

By Abbey O’Brien • May 27, 2026

Puerto 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

Q1 saw net loss of 5,900 renewable energy manufacturing jobs: EDF report

The Environmental Defense Fund cited $1.4 billion in canceled renewable energy investments stemming from federal policy shifts around renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy efficiency and tailpipe emissions. 

By Jeff Kinney • May 14, 2026

Competitive markets are best for virtual power plants, consumers

If allowed, utilities will prioritize infrastructure they own over rapid expansion of rooftop solar and other decentralized energy resources, writes Shannon Anderson of Solar United Neighbors, who argues for enabling private-sector VPP participation.

By Shannon Anderson • May 7, 2026

America’s load growth moment is a chance to scale distributed energy

The fastest approach to expand the grid is via the distribution system, using front-of-meter storage to precisely target substations and feeders that need relief, writes Jigar Shah of Deploy Action.

By Jigar Shah • May 5, 2026

Minnesota got one thing right on distributed storage — but it missed the bigger opportunity

Xcel Energy’s 200-MW, ratepayer-funded battery pilot is not the right model to encourage broad adoption, writes Coalition for Community Solar Access CEO Jeff Cramer.

By Jeff Cramer • April 21, 2026

FERC tees up June decision on data center interconnection reform

Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction, the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver request, and zombie dockets die.

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2026

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

Distributed batteries get legislative, utility lift in California

SB 913 would designate residential batteries as resource adequacy capacity. Ava Community Energy’s SmartHome Battery program creates incentives for residential battery-sharing.

By Brian Martucci • April 14, 2026

As 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

Energy storage pricing beginning to ‘fracture’ by product type: report

The split seems driven by battery developers supporting larger projects for data center and independent power producer clients, according to Anza Renewables.

By Brian Martucci • April 7, 2026

Nevada PUC approves NV Energy plan to join day-ahead market

The decision comes as markets are expanding in the West, with utilities opting between ones run by the California Independent System Operator and the Southwest Power Pool.

By Ethan Howland • April 6, 2026