Grid Security & Reliability
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Permission granted by Consumers Energy
Groups appeal DOE ‘emergency’ order keeping Michigan plant online
“There is no energy emergency in our country … and it is illegal to invoke a made-up emergency to overturn a long-planned plant retirement,” the Sierra Club’s Greg Wannier said.
By Ethan Howland • June 18, 2025 -
Permission granted by Midcontinent Independent System Operator
NERC upgrades MISO reliability risk after ‘data mismatch’ discovered
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator faces an elevated risk of energy shortfalls over the next few years but had been classified by NERC as facing a more dire “high risk.”
By Robert Walton • June 18, 2025 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Andrei Ksenzhuk via Getty Images
TrendlineReliability
Rising peak demand, extreme weather and other factors are raising power outage risks in the U.S., but FERC and other stakeholders are pursuing multiple actions to address reliability concerns.
By Utility Dive staff -
adamkaz via Getty Images
OpinionSenate: Don’t fumble the energy future
Ending clean energy tax deductions would limit power supply and raise electricity prices. It would be like sending a great football team to compete in the Super Bowl without cleats.
By Dean Granoff • June 17, 2025 -
petmal via Getty Images
Microgrids keep the lights on for wildfire-prone California facilities
But federal tax changes under consideration in Congress could make microgrids more expensive for schools and localities that provide services during emergencies.
By Brian Martucci • June 16, 2025 -
Wikipedia. (2024). "2024 RTO Map" [jpg]. Retrieved from WikiCommons.
Deep DiveWill ERCOT’s streamlined connect-and-manage approach work for other markets?
ERCOT’s single-state, energy-only interconnection process doesn’t include other markets’ deliverability requirements and generator cost certainty needs.
By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2025 -
Aaron Yoder via Getty Images
State regulators, utilities support SPP fast-track interconnection plan
But NextEra Energy Resources, clean energy trade groups and others contend it would give utilities a pathway to exclude independent power producers from the process.
By Ethan Howland • June 13, 2025 -
Permission granted by Intersect Power
Batteries are making the grid more reliable: NERC
Last year in Texas, there were times when batteries provided all of the capacity for frequency regulation services, according to the watchdog’s 2025 State of Reliability report.
By Robert Walton • June 13, 2025 -
4kodiak via Getty Images
Prioritize ‘impactful’ power sources for interconnection: DOE’s Wright
“We need to look at that [interconnection queue] process and prioritize projects that are impactful and make it move faster and more efficiently,” DOE Secretary Chris Wright said.
By Ethan Howland • June 11, 2025 -
Wärtsilä Energy Storage
Sponsored by Wärtsilä Energy Storage“How much energy do I really have?” — The question costing storage owners millions
When grid demand spikes and prices surge, every unclaimed megawatt-hour represents lost revenue.
By Ruchira Shah, General Manager, Software Product Management, Wärtsilä Energy Storage • June 9, 2025 -
Michael Pointner / Pexels
Sponsored by TorusThe hidden infrastructure risk that could derail America’s energy transition
Hidden devices in solar inverters expose cybersecurity gaps threatening the energy transition.
By Nate Walkingshaw, CEO and co-founder, Torus • June 9, 2025 -
Courtesy of Clinton Clean Energy Center Stock Photos and B-Roll
Meta, Constellation ink 20-year nuclear power deal to support AI goals
The power purchase agreement will also extend operations at Constellation’s Clinton Clean Energy Center in Illinois for two decades and replace an expiring state tax credit.
By Lamar Johnson • June 6, 2025 -
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Vast array of solar power equipment left exposed online
The most commonly exposed device has been discontinued and vulnerable for a decade, new research found.
By Eric Geller • June 6, 2025 -
Permission granted by Midcontinent Independent System Operator
NERC overstates MISO reliability risks: market monitor
Also, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator has vastly overestimated the power supplies it will need in coming years to meet demand for electricity, market monitor David Patton said.
By Ethan Howland • June 6, 2025 -
Gerville via Getty Images
Does PJM have a data center problem?
“Data centers could overwhelm the grids if they chose to,” Joseph Bowring, Market Analytics president, said. He called for requiring data centers to run their facilities on new power sources.
By Ethan Howland • June 5, 2025 -
aydinmutlu via Getty Images
Diverse market regions highlight resource adequacy challenge at FERC conference
FERC Chairman Mark Christie posed a hypothetical question: Should the commission require grid operators to establish mandatory reserve margins for all load-serving entities?
By Robert Walton • June 5, 2025 -
iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Bipartisan bill proposes $50M cyber threat analysis program for energy sector
“Our national security depends on a resilient and secure energy grid,” said Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo. Experts say the new effort would be welcomed by the private sector.
By Robert Walton • June 4, 2025 -
Polina-Petrenko via Getty Images
OpinionFERC skimps on winter storm details as staffing cuts threaten future reporting
While FERC’s recent report includes data on generator failures, there’s essentially no discussion or data regarding which types of resources failed — a crucial question in need of answers.
By Paul Arbaje • June 3, 2025 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
White House names energy attorney Swett to replace FERC’s Christie
The move comes as the White House appears to be exerting a growing influence over independent agencies like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the R Street Institute’s Devin Hartman said.
By Ethan Howland • June 3, 2025 -
alacatr via Getty Images
OpinionWhy better monitoring of US transformers is a national security imperative
Losing even a small number of transformers can trigger cascading blackouts and we no longer have the spare capacity or supply chains to quickly recover.
By Rahul Chaturvedi • June 2, 2025 -
Permission granted by PJM Interconnection
DOE orders Constellation to delay retiring 760 MW to ease PJM ‘emergency’
The U.S. Department of Energy partly based its action on a PJM Interconnection warning that it may need to call on demand response resources to keep the lights on under extreme conditions this summer.
By Ethan Howland • Updated June 2, 2025 -
Permission granted by COMSOL, Inc.
Sponsored by COMSOLEffective grid management runs on simulation
At power companies, apps enable simulation-based decision making that keeps the grid humming.
By Fanny Griesmer, COO, COMSOL, Inc. • June 2, 2025 -
SBWorldphotography via Getty Images
Transformer, breaker backlogs persist, despite reshoring progress
Manufacturers have been slow to invest in U.S. capacity amid uncertainty over long-term electricity demand. That’s changing, but there’s a long way to go, experts say.
By Brian Martucci • May 29, 2025 -
Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
CenterPoint completes critical Houston grid upgrades ahead of hurricane season
The utility has bolstered its power grid and communications systems since Hurricane Beryl left almost 2.3 million Houston-areas customers without power last summer.
By Robert Walton • May 27, 2025 -
Adobe Stock/ tamas
Sponsored by Franklin EnergyFrom devices to distributed power: How residential DERs are reshaping grid reliability
Residential DERs are transforming homes into powerful, flexible allies for a more resilient grid.
By Jonathan Budner • May 27, 2025 -
Sean Gallup via Getty Images
GOP supporters of IRA clean energy credits outline reconciliation bill recommendations
Fourteen Republicans asked to maintain the tax credit transferability mechanism through the phase-out period and make two other adjustments to the clean energy tax credit changes.
By Lamar Johnson • May 20, 2025
