FERC rejects AEP request to sell capacity in upcoming auction

Critics argued AEP utilities were trying to offload capacity they acquired to serve data centers that didn’t materialize. FERC appeared to echo that rationale, saying AEP’s “problem” is simply excess capacity resulting from “its own business decisions.”

By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 11, 2026

Data centers can tap batteries, microgrids for faster interconnection: NEMA

Battery systems are “increasingly critical” for data center operators willing to pay a premium for resilience and faster time to power, industry analysts say.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 10, 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

New Jersey utilities begin to develop virtual power plants

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities asked for information from utilities on distributed energy resource hosting constraints and how new interconnections can be accelerated.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2026

The strategic case for composite poles: Targeted deployment, maximum grid value

Targeted deployment of composites, guided by a robust decision-tree framework, ultimately leads to both optimal system performance and return on investment.

Feb. 9, 2026

AI’s power surge: 5 ways AI could make the grid more reliable, efficient and flexible

While AI is accelerating energy demand, it also holds the potential to manage the grid more efficiently. Learn the 5 ways AI could make the grid more reliable, efficient, and flexible.

By Piyush Mishra • Feb. 9, 2026

AI, ICE protests and karaoke: DistribuTECH comes to San Diego

“As an industry, we’ve gone from ‘Keep the lights on and stay out of the news,’ to now being the lead story for energy independence, national security and AI development,” said Del Misenheimer, GE Vernova’s VP and CEO of grid automation and software.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2026

House lawmakers press FERC on affordability, reliability and gas

Commissioners cited inadequate transmission infrastructure as a major concern. A gas-fired project in the PJM Interconnection needs $1 billion in grid upgrades to come online, said Commissioner David Rosner.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 4, 2026

Coal plant owners say DOE ‘emergency’ order to run it violates Constitution

By mandating the generator’s availability to operate, the order “constitutes both a physical taking and a regulatory taking” of property by the government without just compensation or due process, they said in a request for rehearing. 

By Ethan Howland • Updated Feb. 2, 2026

How to unlock a tidal wave at the grid edge

Solar plus storage can unlock latent distribution grid capacity at scale.

By Sebastian Blake, Product, Octopus Energy • Feb. 2, 2026

2026 US power sector outlook

Read Utility Dive's road map to the year ahead for FERC, affordability, renewable energy, distributed energy resources and more. 

By Meris Lutz • Jan. 30, 2026

PJM prepares to call on data center, large load backup generation to avoid blackouts

However, it is unclear how much generation could be available, and the grid operator doubts it will be needed during the ongoing bitter cold.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Jan. 30, 2026

NERC forecasts peak demand to rise 24% on new data center loads

“The system is changing faster than the infrastructure needed to support it,” said John Moura, NERC's director of reliability assessments and performance analysis.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2026

FERC in 2026: Rising costs cloud regulators’ options on data centers, transmission and more

DOE’s colocation proposal and transmission planning reforms will set FERC’s agenda this year against a backdrop of rising concern over affordability, former commission chairmen and experts say in our 2026 outlook.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2026

US coal generation jumped 31% during Winter Storm Fern: EIA

Gas generation in the Lower 48 states increased 14%, while solar, wind and hydropower contributions declined from the week before, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 29, 2026

How utilities can prepare for the next wave of data center growth

The U.S. grid is unprepared to handle data center power needs. Utilities want to invest, but permitting hurdles remain a major impediment, writes Nexans North America President Tim King.

By Tim King • Jan. 28, 2026

DOE expands use of emergency orders amid winter freeze

Waivers issued Monday for the PJM Interconnection, New York ISO and Duke Energy build on emergency directives the Department of Energy ordered over the weekend.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2026

The new equation for energy security in 2026

Energy systems will be shaped by those who build resilient, diversified portfolios that balance reliability, policy, emissions, cost and independence, writes Honeywell Process Technology CEO Ken West.

By Ken West • Jan. 26, 2026

MISO regulators seek stakeholder review for DOE ‘emergency’ orders cost allocation

The U.S. Department of Energy has failed to show there are reliability benefits from keeping power plants from retiring in the Midcontinent region, state utility regulators told FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 26, 2026

FERC upholds MISO, SPP fast-track generator reviews

The agency also approved a 1.2-GW pumped storage project planned by Rye Development in Washington.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2026

DOE orders diesel generators to be ready as electric sector prepares for Winter Storm Fern

Secretary of Energy Chris Wright asked grid operators to be prepared to utilize up to 35 GW of backup generation. A consumer advocate warned the plan is unworkable.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 23, 2026

FERC commissioners see progress in PJM data center, power supply plans

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Laura Swett said she is “encouraged that PJM and its stakeholders are working cooperatively now, much more so than they have in the recent past.”

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 23, 2026

Acting CISA chief defends workforce cuts, declares agency ‘back on mission’

Madhu Gottumukkala said the Trump administration supports a long-term renewal of the 2015 Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Act. The agency is also working on finalizing regulation under the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act.

By Eric Geller • Jan. 22, 2026

Managed EV charging can save utilities and ratepayers money: report

By optimizing electric vehicle charging around peak times, utilities can delay costly distribution grid upgrades while cutting per-vehicle charging costs by 25% or more, Brattle Group said this month.

By Brian Martucci • Jan. 21, 2026

US and allies collaborate on operational technology security guidance

A new report for critical infrastructure operators stresses the importance of logging, network segmentation and strong authentication, among other practices.

By Eric Geller • Jan. 20, 2026

A PJM backstop auction could fill the large load supply gap: Talen CEO

Reliability backstop auctions should not be a permanent, ongoing market feature, but they are the answer to today’s problem, writes Talen CEO Mac McFarland.

By Mac McFarland • Jan. 20, 2026