Regulation & Policy


  • A gas-fired power plant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of GE Vernova
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dominion Energy, Santee Cooper receive state approval for $5B gas project

    The South Carolina Public Service Commission dismissed calls from the Sierra Club to impose a cost cap on the Canadys project or require the utilities to commit to retiring coal-fired units.

    By June 16, 2026
  • A wall of six electric smart meters against gray, metal paneling.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Ethan Howland
    Image attribution tooltip

    Utility sector outlook deteriorates on affordability concerns: Fitch

    Utilities are expected to make $240 billion in capital expenditures this year, but political and regulatory pressure could put timely cost recovery at risk, the ratings agency said.

    By June 15, 2026
  • Electrical transmission towers Explore the Trendline
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Trendline

    Cybersecurity of the Grid

    In addition to presenting opportunities for growth, AI is exacerbating cyber threats with more sophisticated malware that is easier than ever to build and deploy. The rise of distributed energy resources also creates more opportunities for attack. 

    By Utility Dive staff
  • A power plant under a cloudy sky.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Steven Baltakatei Sandoval is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    DOE extends TransAlta Centralia Unit 2 emergency order

    The U.S. Department of Energy on Friday said the order to keep the last coal plant in Washington state online is needed to help meet peak summer demand.

    By June 15, 2026
  • aerial view
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty / FanPro via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by West Monroe Partners

    AI load growth is changing the utility business model

    Large-load demand is transforming utility strategy, regulation, and investment.

    By Betsy Soehren Jones, Partner, Energy & Utilities Practice Lead for AI, Cyber, and Data, West Monroe • June 15, 2026
  • Electric power lines run through woods.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Liam Enea is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Connecticut AG, agencies ask FERC to cut Eversource, Avangrid RTO adder

    A new state law requires the utilities to participate in ISO New England, making them ineligible for an extra 0.5% return on equity, according to a complaint filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    By June 12, 2026
  • A transmission line tower and wind turbines in Illinois.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Appeals court upholds FERC decision ordering refunds from MISO transmission owners

    Eversource Energy and other transmission owners in New England could see ramifications from the ruling that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can order refunds for multi-year periods.

    By June 11, 2026
  • Natural Gas-Fired, Combined-Cycle Power Plant equipped with emissions control technology.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    FERC approves PJM fast-track review for ‘shovel-ready’ power projects

    PJM will consider up to 10 interconnection requests annually over two years for resources of at least 250 MW that can come online in three years.

    By Updated June 10, 2026
  • hands of workers sort large batteries on a conveyor
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of American Battery
    Image attribution tooltip

    DOE reinstates $57M American Battery grant

    American Battery Technology Co. won its appeal after the agency canceled the grant last year. It will continue plans to build a $115 million commercial-scale lithium refinery alongside its lithium-ion battery recycling efforts.

    By Megan Quinn • June 9, 2026
  • U.S. Supreme Court, DOE energy efficiency rules, condensing, non-condensing water heaters, gas furnaces
    Image attribution tooltip
    georgeclerk via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Supreme Court sends furnace case back to appeals court

    The top court agreed with the Trump administration that Biden-era rules effectively eliminating non-condensing gas furnaces and water heaters from the market are based on an incomplete legal review.

    By Robert Freedman • June 9, 2026
  • Construction equipment sits near a large building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    FirstEnergy asks FERC to require data centers to pay for transmission interconnection costs

    FirstEnergy’s proposal adopts a cost allocation practice from the gas pipeline sector. It comes ahead of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s expected large load interconnection decision on June 18.

    By June 9, 2026
  • Construction of Microsoft Azure data center campus, known as IAD01-1 and IAD01-2, on Oct. 19, 2024, in Leesburg, Va.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Microsoft seeks Nevada tariff to shield ratepayers from data center costs

    The proposal would require large-load customers to pay for infrastructure built specifically to serve their projects while preserving standard utility charges for broader grid services.

    By Marlene Wilden • June 8, 2026
  • An aerial view of a large warehouse-like building.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Meta
    Image attribution tooltip

    FERC approves SPP non-firm, large-load transmission service

    The Southwest Power Pool service aims to help data centers and other large loads get online quickly, but they can have their service cut when grid conditions are tight.

    By June 8, 2026
  • A power plant sits behind an array of solar panels.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by OUC Reliable One is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    DOE orders OUC’s 465-MW coal unit in Florida to continue running

    Although Florida is at “normal risk” for long-term energy adequacy, the unit near Orlando needs to remain online partly to help serve potential data centers in the state, the department said.

    By June 5, 2026
  • President Trump answers questions about funding and projects to support coal power at an event at the White House.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from White House.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trump administration announces $850M to modernize US coal capacity, build 2 new plants

    New coal-fired plants in Anchorage, Alaska, and Mt. Storm, West Virginia, would total 2.85 GW. They would be the first new U.S. coal plants to come online since 2013.

    By June 5, 2026
  • A man in a blue jacket against a blue wall
    Image attribution tooltip
    Meris Lutz/Utility Dive
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A

    DOE’s Alex Fitzsimmons on energy markets, AI, renewables and more

    Utility Dive caught up with the associate deputy secretary of energy at the Edison Electric Institute conference in Las Vegas, where the dominant theme was balancing demand growth with affordability.

    By June 5, 2026
  • A person in an orange jacket speaks into microphones labeled “FOX5 NEWS” and “abc 13 KTNV-TV” while holding a phone at an outdoor gathering. Behind them, a crowd holds protest signs, including signs reading “CANCEL THE DAILY DEMAND CHARGE,” “Cancel The DAILY Demand Charge,” and “PEOPLE OVER POLLUTERS.”
    Image attribution tooltip
    Photo by Bryan Steffy/People's Action via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Protesters target NV Energy at electric utility conference as anger over affordability rises

    “In Las Vegas, one of the fastest warming cities in the country, you cannot live without electricity,” said protest organizer Leslie Vega, who said she’s lost loved ones to heatstroke.

    By June 4, 2026
  • Power line in the forest.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Speed to power requires more transmission, not less competition

    A complaint at FERC seeking to limit competition among transmission developers would inject uncertainty into the process and spur regulatory delays, writes Will Hazelip from National Grid Ventures US.

    By Will Hazelip • June 4, 2026
  • An aerial view of a nuclear power plant's cooling towers on an island in the middle of a river.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Constellation’s Three Mile Island nuclear restart gets boost with FERC waiver

    Constellation Energy will be able to transfer capacity interconnection rights, enabling the nuclear unit to potentially deliver all its power when it restarts, possibly before the end of 2027.

    By June 3, 2026
  • SEC seal outside Washington D.C. building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    SEC proposes rule rescinding Biden-era climate risk disclosures

    The agency’s proposal calls the 2024 climate disclosure rules “a dramatic overreach of the Commission’s statutory authority and, independently, unsound as a matter of policy.”

    By Lamar Johnson • June 2, 2026
  • A nuclear power plant sits across a snowy field.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by AsNuke is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    What does it take to restore a nuclear power plant?

    Restarting previously closed nuclear plants could be one of the most cost-effective ways to supply large amounts of firm, clean electricity, writes Patrick White at Clean Air Task Force.

    By Patrick White • June 2, 2026
  • Electric transmission lines run through the woods.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Eversource project ‘epitomizes’ flawed transmission reviews: New England states

    New England “severely lacks” oversight of asset condition projects like Eversource Energy’s X-178 transmission project, the New England States Committee on Electricity told FERC.

    By June 2, 2026
  • Solar sewage treatment plant
    Image attribution tooltip
    Chun han via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Sponsored by Black & Veatch

    How the U.S. solar industry can solve its 53K-worker challenge

    The solar workforce challenge is significant but solvable. Here’s how to close the gap.

    June 2, 2026
  • Person using tablet with smart home control functions.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    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
  • Heavy equipment sits near power line towers.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Opinion

    Once you secure SPARK funds for transmission development, what comes next?

    The success of DOE’s SPARK initiative will depend on how prepared organizations are to execute once the funding arrives, writes Al Eliasen, Spatial Business Systems CEO.

    By Al Eliasen • May 29, 2026
  • Solar panels sit on a roof.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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