Wright defends actions on coal plants, funding cuts in testy House hearing

When pressed, the energy secretary said that money for home energy efficiency rebate programs, which has been frozen since last year, would “probably” be released in a “few weeks.”

By Diana DiGangi • April 16, 2026

Why reforming rooftop solar and battery permitting belongs on every state affordability agenda

The hurdles that stop families from installing home energy upgrades are firmly within the control of state governments, writes Permit Power founder Nick Josefowitz.

By Nick Josefowitz • April 16, 2026

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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

FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’

“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

By Ethan Howland • April 16, 2026

An outdated FERC policy is undermining the White House’s ratepayer protection pledge

FERC should revisit its transmission pricing policy and require utilities to assign the full costs of service to power-hungry data centers, writes Harvard’s Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • April 15, 2026

Colorado legislature sends ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill to governor

The bill requires Xcel Energy, Black Hills and Tri-State to assess the potential for grid-enhancing technologies to bolster the bulk power system, reduce wildfires and increase interstate power flows. Other states are following suit.

By Ethan Howland • April 15, 2026

Regulators approve Georgia Power’s BYO clean resources plan for large loads

Eligible projects can be located in other states as long as they can deliver power to Georgia Power under an approved interconnection framework, Jamie Barber of the Georgia Public Service Commission told Utility Dive.

By Brian Martucci • April 14, 2026

Maryland General Assembly passes rate relief measure to lower utility bills by $150/year

The bill reflects growing concerns among U.S. regulators and policymakers about the level of utility spending and how that affects affordability, an equity analyst said.

By Ethan Howland • April 14, 2026

Iran war impacts on oil prices spiked construction stress, increased abandonments

Construction saw a 22.8% surge in project abandonments month over month in March, according to ConstructConnect. Other analyses have found commercial construction weakening outside the data center boom.

By Sebastian Obando • April 14, 2026

The need for speed: FERC must exempt transmission projects from regulatory bottlenecks

Order 1000 has failed to deliver savings and has instead driven higher costs for customers, writes Purvi Patel at ITC Holdings.

By Purvi Patel • April 14, 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

DOE proposes slashing non-defense spending on energy

The proposal would shrink DOE’s non-defense spending by “slashing Green New Scam initiatives,” including more than $15 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, the White House said.

By Meris Lutz • April 10, 2026

Terra-Gen to pay $5.6M to settle CAISO market manipulation charges

The renewable energy company failed to follow orders to store electricity in a battery system when power prices were high, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • April 10, 2026

EPA proposes weakening power plant coal ash protections

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the proposal as “commonsense changes,” but environmental advocates say it could permit coal plant owners to minimize, delay or avoid cleanup.

By Robert Walton • April 10, 2026

States are already working on solutions to large-load challenges

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has never regulated retail load interconnections before and should leave it to the states, who have done it for decades, writes former FERC Chairman Mark Christie.

By Mark Christie • April 9, 2026

Entergy, Xcel, others seek to upend competitive transmission bidding in MISO, SPP

Ending competition for regional transmission would be “counterproductive and not in the interest of consumers,” former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee told Utility Dive.

By Ethan Howland • April 9, 2026

Virginia grid utilization bill set to become law

A growing body of research suggests increased grid utilization has broad benefits for utilities and customers, but experts say advanced metering technology is needed to unlock its full potential.

By Brian Martucci • 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

Pennsylvania DEP seeks potential fast-track storage, generation projects

The request is in response to the PJM Interconnection’s proposed Expedited Interconnection Track, which faces opposition at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from independent power producer Vistra and environmental groups.

By Ethan Howland • April 7, 2026

Commercial nuclear fuel recycling key to a sustainable supply: report

A robust recycling program could greatly reduce the volume and radiotoxicity of waste and reduce the need for additional uranium mining, according to the Energy Innovation Reform Project.

By Brian Martucci • April 7, 2026

Federal permitting is ‘outsized’ factor in clean energy delays, cancellations: Crux

“More than 80% of respondents reported intentionally siting projects to avoid triggering federal permitting requirements,” fintech company Crux said about its survey of clean energy developers. 

By Diana DiGangi • April 7, 2026

Eversource, Avangrid ask FERC to stay $1.5B refund decision

The utility companies asked the agency to put a hold on a recent return on equity decision, saying consumers could be hurt by “rate whiplash” if the refunds are overturned in court.

By Ethan Howland • April 7, 2026

Nevada PUC approves NV Energy plan to join day-ahead market

The decision comes as markets are expanding in the West, with utilities opting between ones run by the California Independent System Operator and the Southwest Power Pool.

By Ethan Howland • April 6, 2026

Trump adjusts metal tariffs, sets 15% rate for some electrical grid equipment

Under the new rules, which go into effect April 6, goods made almost entirely of aluminum, steel or copper will still face a 50% tariff. Derivative products will be subject to 25%. 

By Phil Neuffer • April 3, 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

FERC urged to reject TeraWulf’s power plant purchase due to undisclosed Google ownership stake

The purchase is part of TeraWulf’s plan to develop a major data center at a power plant site in Maryland.

By Ethan Howland • April 3, 2026