The AI boom could shift diesel generators from backup to everyday use

Last week’s election results demand community-friendly data centers. Overlooking the role of diesel backup could create more pollution and noise for residents, write experts from Inlyte Energy.

By Jon Wellinghoff, Antonio Baclig and Ben Kaun • Nov. 10, 2026

GE Vernova to spend $34.5M expanding Louisiana transformer manufacturing capacity

“Electricity demand is growing, and transformers are part of the critical grid equipment essential to delivering the power our customers and modern economies depend on,” said the head of the company’s electrification segment.

By Meris Lutz • Nov. 10, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Transmission

Utilities are preparing to spend billions building out transmission at a time when affordability is a major concern.Get a handle on what’s at stake and the solutions being offered in this trendline.

By Utility Dive staff

Are data centers really paying their share? AES Indiana’s Google deal highlights a thorny question

While local grid infrastructure projects are fairly easy to trace back to a specific data center, regional system upgrades raise more complex questions about who benefits and cost allocation across jurisdictions, one expert told Utility Dive.

By Charles Paullin • Nov. 10, 2026

The next wave of energy storage capacity is already on the grid

One study found $98M in missed revenue across 30 batteries. Better software controls can help capture it.

By Scott Blalock, General Manager, Global Software Operational Technology, Valo • Nov. 9, 2026

Every virtual megawatt needs a meter

GETs, demand response and VPPs all rely on one device utilities are about to replace by the millions.

By Patrick Hughes, SVP of Strategy, Technical and Industry Affairs, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) • Nov. 9, 2026

Data centers don’t need special treatment to get power faster

Projects that make their demand more predictable, controllable and financially secure should have a clearer path to service, writes Seyed Madaeni, CEO and co-founder of Verse.

By Seyed Madaeni • Nov. 6, 2026

Trump ban on foreign grid components sparks industry concern over cost, practicality

Stakeholders applauded the order’s intent to secure the grid but said restrictions based on geography, rather than function and capability, miss the point and threaten investment.

By Herman K. Trabish • Nov. 4, 2026

Electric utilities join industries urging renewal of cybersecurity information-sharing law

CISA 2015, as the law is often called, provides liability protections for companies sharing cyber threat indicators amongst themselves and with federal agencies. It is set to expire next month.

By Eric Geller • Nov. 4, 2026

PJM’s revised data center backstop procurement plan reduces utility risks: ICF

The planned procurement could be for as little as 630 MW, down from an initial 6,800-MW target, after utilities in the PJM Interconnection’s footprint lowered their large-load forecasts, Jefferies analysts said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Nov. 4, 2026

Lack of wildfire reform is having ‘dire and escalating impacts’: SCE

“While we remain confident that California policymakers will ultimately take action, delay into 2027 will have significant and costly consequences,” said Edison International CEO Pedro Pizarro.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 30, 2026

Chinese-linked solar developer loses appeal over Texas grid interconnection

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit said Texas has a “free lane” to enforce restrictions on foreign-owned companies’ access to the state’s electric grid in a ruling that could have implications for other states and market participants.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 29, 2026

CISA promises proactive critical infrastructure defense in new strategic plan

Supply-chain security receives special attention in the plan, with CISA promising to “develop data-driven guidance and best practices” related to third-party dependencies. AI is mentioned only briefly.

By Eric Geller • Oct. 26, 2026

Inside the resilience gap

The 2026 State of Grid Resilience report puts data behind the pressures utility leaders face as they strengthen resilience while balancing affordability and performance.

Oct. 26, 2026

Utilities turn to AI to manage rising power demand — from AI

Applications include maintenance prioritization and demand forecasting, but AI outputs that are uneven, or those that can’t be audited, constrain broader deployment. “Most utilities could not reconstruct what an AI system read, what it did and why,” one expert told Utility Dive.

By Marlene Wilden • Oct. 22, 2026

12 actions to tackle energy affordability

Modernizing the grid is a complex, multi-dimensional challenge; improving energy affordability is similarly complicated, writes Bryce Yonker, executive director of Grid Forward.

By Bryce Yonker • Oct. 20, 2026

What Google’s virtual power plant in PJM says about the race for electricity

Voltus CEO Dana Guernsey compared new “bring your own new capacity” contracts to the power purchase agreements that “revolutionized” utility-scale solar and wind development.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 19, 2026

Utilities can use AI to solve grid backlogs: AWS energy lead

The utilities moving first on AI-powered grid planning are delivering faster approvals, fewer outages and lower costs, writes Amazon Web Services’ head of energy and utilities, Joseph Santamaria.

By Joseph Santamaria • Oct. 15, 2026

Reliability standards for AI data centers, crypto miners move closer to adoption

NERC’s Board of Trustees on Monday voted to adopt reliability standards for AI data centers and other computational loads. The proposed rules now go to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.

By Robert Walton • Updated Oct. 27, 2026

PG&E warns of more shutoffs as fire conditions continue threatening California grid

The shutoffs — potentially affecting more than two dozen counties, mostly in northern and central California — could continue through Saturday.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 13, 2026

Solving California’s energy affordability crisis can help the whole nation

The state's electricity prices are double the national average, and wildfires are a big reason — but far from the only one. Fresh leadership can show the way on regulatory, financial and operational reform, write experts at GridLab and Energy Innovation.

By Ric O’Connell and Michael O’Boyle • Oct. 13, 2026

160K customers without power in Southeastern US as Hurricane Isaias recovery enters third day

Peak outages numbered approximately 950,000. Utilities said grid modernization efforts kept more customers from losing power and sped service restoration for those who did. FPL said its underground lines performed eight times better than overhead ones.

By Robert Walton • Updated Oct. 12, 2026

Private LTE: How utilities should think about cost, control and tradeoffs

Compare spectrum, carrier and satellite options before choosing a connectivity model.

By Tim Valin, Senior Partner, West Monroe • Oct. 12, 2026

Top electric power sector and utility conferences in 2027

Utility Dive’s curated list of notable events where energy professionals will gather to exchange ideas, demonstrate novel approaches and network for a new era of grid modernization.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 6, 2026

A new VPP framework can center the energy transition in Illinois around customers: ComEd VP

Commonwealth Edison will file a virtual power plant framework by the end of 2027 that looks beyond batteries, writes Andrew Plenge, vice president of strategy and energy policy at the Illinois utility.

By Andrew Plenge • Oct. 6, 2026

Maximizing efficiency: How commissioning and retro-commissioning facilities can strengthen grid resiliency

Utilities turn to onsite power as demand outpaces grid capacity.

Oct. 5, 2026