The capacity market crisis is a design problem, not a verdict on competition

PJM's capacity price spikes are a symptom of a market that drifted too far toward spot-price dependence, not an indication that competition itself does not work, write Atlantic Council experts.

By Stephen Greene and Frank Willey • Oct. 21, 2026

Virginia governor seeks 6-year rate freeze if Dominion-NextEra merger is approved

Gov. Abigail Spanberger, D, also wants regulators to increase the debt share of Dominion’s capital structure from 48% to 60% to lower its rate of return. Separately, regulatory staff and the attorney general have proposed their own conditions for the deal.

By Charles Paullin • Oct. 20, 2026

Explore the Trendline➔

Data Centers and the US Grid

A look at how data centers are affecting the U.S. grid today and how new technologies and rate structures could affect that trajectory in the years to come.

By Utility Dive staff

FERC approves ISO-NE ‘asset condition’ transmission review process

Commissioners David Rosner and Judy Chang said other regions should adopt similar review processes for local transmission projects, which states and consumer advocates say need more oversight.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2026

Grading the grid: How ISOs stack up against FERC’s large-load mandate

Utilities, developers and investors are all left asking the same question: how close is each grid operator to meeting FERC’s mandate?

Oct. 19, 2026

FERC proposes easing regulatory pathway for gas pipeline, LNG projects

“The only current restriction on getting American gas is our ability to get the gas to market and the infrastructure bottlenecks,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2026

NextEra’s $4M Trump ballroom donation muddies Dominion merger debate, watchdogs say

The donation, which advocates called “problematic” and “convenient” for the company, comes to light as federal regulators chosen by President Donald Trump consider whether to allow NextEra to merge with Dominion Energy.

By Robert Walton , Meris Lutz • Oct. 16, 2026

Solar imports from India, Indonesia, Laos injured US manufacturers: ITC

The decision clears the way for the Department of Commerce to finalize anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells from the three countries.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 15, 2026

Fossil fuel generation pipeline rebounds while new clean generation slows: EDF

However, “rising gas turbine costs and supply shortages are already making new gas plants more expensive and slower to build,” David Villagrana, EDF’s lead counsel for clean energy tax solutions, told Utility Dive.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 14, 2026

PJM plans to study SoftBank’s Ohio AI project under state agreement approach

The project, dubbed “Flagship,” includes 765-kV transmission lines to be built by AEP Ohio, roughly 10 GW in data center load and about 10.2 GW in gas-fired generation.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2026

FERC approves Duke large load transmission rules despite cost-shift concerns

Commissioner David Rosner said that Duke Energy Carolinas’ proposal offers “meaningful, if imperfect, new protections,” adding that consumer protections are “inadequate across the country” and FERC may need to take further action.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 13, 2026

Dominion-NextEra merger hearing focused on rates, data centers

“When Dominion was asked about the [Virginia Clean Economy Act], its executive vice president told the commission, ‘I am still your throat to choke,’ and that was a shocking thing for me to hear as a legislator,” said Virginia Del. Irene Shin, D.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 12, 2026

FERC rejects most of PJM’s large load interconnection plan

The PJM Interconnection’s plan for curtailing large loads that don’t have matching new generation intrudes on state jurisdiction and appears to be discriminatory, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 12, 2026

Beyond the checklist: How connected asset data is reshaping grid risk

Regulators are raising the bar on what an inspection has to prove.

By Donald McPhail • Oct. 12, 2026

PJM approves fast-track interconnection for 2.1 GW from Engie, LS Power

The grid operator expects Engie’s two storage projects totaling nearly 1.7 GW and LS Power’s 455-MW gas-fired uprate will be online by mid-2029.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 9, 2026

US electric, gas utility rate requests spike to $4.5B in Q3: PowerLines

The cumulative value of third quarter rate requests more than doubled from the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from the advocacy group.  

By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2026

Power system plans to meet large-load demand miss near-term solutions: analysts

Major work by regional planners is focused on flexible access to existing transmission. Some say greater emphasis on advanced transmission technologies can quickly and cost-effectively create room for new large loads.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2026

DOE presses PJM on ratepayer protections from large load costs

“A capability to continuously track whether a project enters into service ... or is delayed, reduced, or cancelled, can help assign costs for new generation to the customers responsible for those investments,” the DOE said in a rare filing at FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Oct. 8, 2026

Virginia regulators approve Dominion’s fuel cost recovery, securitization

The Virginia State Corporation Commission approved fuel cost securitization for the second time since 2023, adding additional interest costs for customers.

By Charles Paullin • Oct. 7, 2026

Virginia Lt. Gov. Hashmi opposes NextEra-Dominion merger as public hearings begin

“We are disappointed by the lieutenant governor’s decision and respectfully disagree with it,” Neil Nissan, a spokesperson for NextEra Energy, told Utility Dive. State regulators are set to hold their first local hearing on the case Wednesday.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 7, 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

States, renewable developers back MISO’s accelerated interconnection queue plan

“This approach can materially accelerate the processing of legacy queue cycles while preserving MISO’s responsibility to identify and address reliability concerns,” the Organization of MISO States said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 6, 2026

Virginia hearing examiner tells Dominion to release memo on FPL investigation

Dominion said the memo wasn’t relevant to its merger with NextEra Energy, but Clean Virginia, a customer advocacy group, said it speaks to the governance “fitness” of the potential combined company.

By Charles Paullin • Oct. 5, 2026

MISO proposes fast-track large load, generation study process

The 120-day study process would be available for loads larger than 200 MW and new generation that is in the same local resource zone, which generally consists of individual states.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 5, 2026

Cities, states sue EPA over power plant emissions rollback

Chicago, Denver and New York City joined multistate lawsuits challenging the agency’s move to end greenhouse gas emissions standards and failure to enforce requirements on existing gas-fired plants.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Oct. 2, 2026