Utility costs could put pressure on cities’ finances, S&P experts warn

Rates are high compared to household income in many places, and over time, this could reduce flexibility for public finance entities, say S&P Global analysts. This isn’t currently leading to significant bond rating actions, but it’s a “simmering risk.”

By Vicky Uhland • Sept. 16, 2026

State-led planning could advance clean energy in deregulated markets: report

States should step in with new long-term planning processes to bolster nuclear, offshore wind and other technologies that face major barriers, according to the Clean Air Task Force.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 16, 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

EPA scraps Biden power plant GHG rules, moves to eliminate other standards

Rachael Marsh, chief legal officer at the Edison Electric Institute, which represents investor-owned utilities, said in an emailed statement to Utility Dive that the group supported the repeal of the carbon capture and storage-based standards.

By Meris Lutz , Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 15, 2026

Blackstone-TXNM deal faces fresh questions from New Mexico DOJ

TXNM unwound a Blackstone stock sale ruled illegal, but the state Department of Justice is seeking more information related to potential indirect costs to PNM ratepayers.

By Marlene Wilden • Sept. 14, 2026

EPA poised to scrap power plant carbon standards

Eliminating federal limits on power-sector emissions could undermine local climate goals and increase risks to infrastructure and public health, city and environmental leaders warn.

By Robyn Griggs Lawrence • Sept. 14, 2026

The hidden cost of utility customer vulnerability

Affordability struggles are spreading. Is your utility built to catch them in time?

Sept. 14, 2026

Court rejects DOE ‘emergency’ order delaying coal plant retirement as overstep

“The Department’s reading of 'emergency' invites frequent federal interventions that are unsupported by the statute and threaten the stability of the energy market,” the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit said in its ruling.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 11, 2026

New York ISO’s independence is critical when the grid is stressed

This summer’s Champlain Hudson Power Express outage highlights the importance of an independent grid operator, writes Zach Smith, senior vice president of system and resource planning at NYISO.

By Zach Smith • Sept. 11, 2026

Pennsylvania PUC to consider ratemaking, ROE and curtailment as data center load grows

The decisions come “amid growing concern about the balance between rapidly increasing electricity demand and the resources available to serve that demand” in PJM territory, the Pennsylvania PUC said.

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 11, 2026

Unplanned power plant outages fell sharply during 2025/26 winter storms: FERC-NERC report

Improved preparations and interregional power transfers played key roles in avoiding blackouts during bitter cold in early 2026, according to the agency and grid watchdog.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 11, 2026

California PUC to revise general rate case plan around transparency goals

Commissioner Darcie Houck suggested taking “a closer look at the correlation between utility performance and compensation.” The plan has not been comprehensively updated since 2007. 

By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 10, 2026

Google, Xcel, others back MISO’s ‘zero injection’ large-load proposal

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator's proposal would fast-track reviews for generating projects that supply large loads served by the same substation, including colocated loads.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 9, 2026

Large-load tariffs increasingly rely on upfront payments, exit fees, ramp schedules

Active and proposed large-load tariffs have increased sharply since early 2025, as has the average qualifying demand threshold for covered customers, according to research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

By Brian Martucci • Sept. 8, 2026

Bonneville eyes switch to CAISO’s EDAM from Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+

BPA’s Travis Kavulla outlined governance-related criteria that need to be met for the federal power marketer to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market run by California’s grid operator.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 8, 2026

NextEra secures $1.9B DOE loan for Duane Arnold nuclear restart

A DOE spokesperson told Utility Dive the loan will be repaid with interest to the U.S. taxpayer. "Thanks to President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, hyperscalers, not taxpayers, are paying for the new power generation," they said.

By Robert Walton • Updated Sept. 11, 2026

Transmission expansion could spur billions in savings, especially in PJM: study

About a dozen inter- and intraregional projects in the Eastern Interconnection could help meet load growth, lower retail electric rates, bolster reliability and support U.S. security, the study found.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 2, 2026

Wildfire costs loom over California legislative session that passed solar, data center bills

The California Legislature did not vote on a wildfire reform bill during a special session Tuesday, effectively killing the proposal. The bill had implications for electric utilities.

By Diana DiGangi • Updated Sept. 2, 2026

Large loads face reliability requirements under MISO proposal

MISO defines “large loads” as those above 50 MW and “computational loads” as large loads that include at least 25 MW of demand from information technology equipment. The separate classifications will allow MISO to target certain requirements to data centers.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 1, 2026

California sues Trump administration over offshore wind ‘extortion racket’

The state alleges the Trump administration “abuses its authority” by diminishing the value of offshore wind energy leases before it makes an “unrefusable offer” to developers.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 31, 2026

PJM drops Oklo advanced nuclear project from interconnection study cycle

Oklo asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order the PJM Interconnection to reinstate its 750-MW, mixed-technology project. PJM reportedly told Oklo that it never showed the project could ride through a sudden drop in grid voltage.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Sept. 1, 2026

Property risk in natural resources: The shift from severity to duration

Secondary perils, such as severe convective storms, are becoming a primary driver of earnings volatility.

Aug. 31, 2026

Ohio ratepayer advocate urges FERC to resolve 3-year-old local transmission complaint

Since the complaint was filed, FirstEnergy, AEP and other Ohio utilities have planned more than $4.3 billion in local transmission without adequate oversight, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 28, 2026

Duke Energy Florida asks to punt on rate for large load customers

Duke Energy Florida’s proposal “doesn't attempt to comply with the most basic provisions” of Florida’s new data center law, the state’s public counsel, Walt Trierweiler, said at a hearing.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 27, 2026

Data centers can vanish from the grid in seconds; reliability rules need to catch up

The loss of more than 3 GW of data center demand in Virginia shows why policy must address operational behavior, not just costs, writes AIxEnergy.io founder Brandon Owens.

By Brandon Owens • Aug. 25, 2026

US-Canada trade war threatens electricity imports, prices

If Canada opts to reduce or eliminate electricity exports to New England, the impact would be largely financial — at least under typical weather conditions, according to the region's grid operator. A previous 25% tariff in 2025 lasted only a day.

By Robert Walton • Updated Aug. 25, 2026