Alaska’s energy challenges require a national response

Alaska energy modernization should be treated as a national infrastructure priority, writes Northwest Public Power Association CEO Kurt Miller.

By Kurt Miller • April 22, 2026

What does Trump’s wartime powers flex mean for transformers and other grid equipment shortages?

Spencer Pederson of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association told Utility Dive the move was a “step in the right direction,” but its impact will depend on details and funding. In the meantime, distribution transformer backlogs are running a year or more.

By Robert Walton • April 22, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 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

Sudden data center load losses prompt NERC alert, recommendations

The reliability watchdog is concerned about a series of “widespread and unexpected” customer-initiated load reductions in 2024 and 2025 during which 1,000 MW or more dropped off the bulk power system.

By Robert Walton • April 21, 2026

MISO expects load to jump 35% by 2035 on data center growth

However, data center development plans "widen uncertainty" in the long-term outlook, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator cautioned. Utilities need more dynamic planning models to cope, Stephanie Chesnick Cutter of EY told Utility Dive.

By Ethan Howland • April 20, 2026

How do you know your power market and grid data is reliable? 9 questions to ask

Not just any data will do when high-impact decisions rely on accurate info. Here’s what to look for.

April 20, 2026

The single-platform utility: A competitive advantage in the age of AI

Many utilities still run different technological worlds without a common platform and data foundation. Learn how a single platform can increase business speed while reducing risks and costs.

By Oracle • April 20, 2026

PJM proposes adding 14.9 GW with bilateral contracts, central procurement

In the first part of a two-phase plan, the grid operator would help match buyers, including data centers and other large loads, with sellers of new generation. States and utilities may seek to lower the procurement target over affordability concerns.

By Ethan Howland • April 13, 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

NERC is ‘actively monitoring the grid’ following Iran-linked cyber threat

Hackers have disrupted critical U.S. infrastructure by targeting programmable logic controllers, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned.

By Robert Walton • April 8, 2026

Recalibrating the social license for AI infrastructure in the United States

To counter a public backlash, data center developers must embrace economic reciprocity while utilities and regulators must design rates that penalize grid stress and reward flexibility, write Fred Bailey of Gideon Arktos and Frank Willey at the Atlantic Council.

By Fred Bailey and Frank Willey • April 8, 2026

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

State utility laws are the primary barrier to Trump’s AI ratepayer protection pledge

The best way to leverage the pledge’s supply commitment is to accelerate the nationwide momentum to give business customers retail choice, write Devin Hartman and Kent Chandler of the R Street Institute.

By Devin Hartman and Kent Chandler • April 3, 2026

PECO seeks $429M rate hike, partly to reduce power outages

PECO’s capital expenditure to net plant ratio is higher than that of 16 peer utilities, indicating a higher risk level, said a Brattle Group representative who testified in support of the rate request.

By Ethan Howland • April 1, 2026

AI data centers are stressing power infrastructure. Storage is the answer.

No one wants to admit that a power system designed for normal data center behavior is struggling under AI behavior, writes TerraFlow Energy Chief Marketing Officer Amanda Simonian.

By Amanda Simonian • March 31, 2026

Winter Storm Fern highlighted need for expanded interregional transmission, Senate hears

Some regions saw prices of hundreds of dollars per megawatt-hour, while neighboring areas experienced negative power prices. “There was power not being used at all because the transmission was not available,” said Liza Reed of the Niskanen Center think tank.

By Robert Walton • March 27, 2026

DOE offers $50M for tribal energy projects

The funding opportunity outlines program policy factors that can influence the selection of projects for awards, including “the degree to which the proposed project will support the supply of firm, reliable power.” 

By Diana DiGangi • March 26, 2026

DOE extends emergency operations at 2 Indiana coal plants

Since December the plants “have proven critical” to operations in the Midcontinent ISO region, DOE said. Sierra Club says they cost consumers almost $200,000 per day.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2026

Utilities must ask AI vendors these questions to meet critical infrastructure protection standards

Utilities deploying AI tools may be creating a compliance gap that will become visible only when auditors start asking questions, writes Eric Swidey, founder of Thirty Seven Inc.

By Eric Swidey • March 24, 2026

‘Emergencies’ requiring coal plants to stay open need not be imminent, DOE tells court

States, environmental groups and others have sued the U.S. Department of Energy over its repeated emergency orders to run the J.H. Campbell plant in West Olive, Michigan, saying it failed to show the emergency need.

By Ethan Howland • March 23, 2026

Securing the last mile: Distribution visibility for a stable grid

As the last mile grows more complex, real-time distribution visibility helps utilities uncover hidden risks, validate assets and support new loads without disruption.

March 23, 2026

DOE taps SoftBank arm to develop 9.2 GW of gas generation in Ohio

SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank Group, is also investing $4.2 billion with AEP Ohio to upgrade and build new transmission lines in Southern Ohio.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2026

Why data centers will need a ‘bring your own power’ strategy

If the AI boom is not handled correctly, we will put grid stability and public trust at odds with tech-led growth, writes Ameresco CEO George Sakellaris.

By George Sakellaris • March 20, 2026

FERC rejects RWE complaint over PJM interconnection practices

The agency also slashed New England’s transmission return on equity and said it would allow two Indiana utilities to spread costs stemming from DOE emergency orders keeping coal plants online across MISO’s northern and central regions.

By Ethan Howland • March 20, 2026

January’s Winter Storm Fern was ‘classic near-miss’ for US grid, says NERC’s Robb

“The system ran very close to the edge, leaving no room for error,” Jim Robb, president and CEO of the North American Electric Reliability Corp., told a House subcommittee.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2026

Winter storms underscore data center threats to grid reliability, affordability

Demand from the data center boom, combined with worsening extreme weather events, put our electric system at heightened risk, writes Union of Concerned Scientists Senior Manager Mike Jacobs.

By Mike Jacobs • March 19, 2026