Unconstitutional: Utilities are funding political speech with captive ratepayer funds

When ratepayers are forced to subsidize utility political activity through state-set rates, utilities and the state compel objecting ratepayers to fund a private company's political speech.

By Eliza Martin • Aug. 28, 2025

Illinois regulators, others urge FERC to dismiss Ameren push to build $1.9B in MISO projects

Ameren Illinois contends it has the right to build 765-kV transmission projects in Illinois that are part of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s Tranche 2.1 regional plan.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 28, 2025

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

Tariffs pose ‘elevated risk’ of unleashing high inflation: Atlanta Fed

“Firms with supply chains that rely on imported goods have revised up their year-ahead [price] expectations markedly,” economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said.

By Jim Tyson • Aug. 28, 2025

Minnesota’s energy future deserves better than BlackRock’s empty promises

What happens in Minnesota will send a signal to other states about whether regulators are willing to put public interest ahead of Wall Street profit, writes Alissa Jean Schafer of the Private Equity Stakeholder Project.

By Alissa Jean Schafer • Aug. 27, 2025

FERC approves NextEra waiver needed for Duane Arnold nuclear plant restart

NextEra Energy — majority owner of the nuclear plant in Iowa — is in talks with potential customers for the output from Duane Arnold.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 26, 2025

TXNM Energy seeks state regulators’ approval for $11.5B Blackstone acquisition

New Mexico advocates are lining up to oppose the deal. Blackstone “has a long track record of putting profits above people,” said Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy Economy.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 26, 2025

PacifiCorp urges FERC to dismiss challenges to adding $1.7B in wildfire costs to transmission rates

The Bonneville Power Administration, Powerex, Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-Operative and others contend PacifiCorp has failed to show its wildfire-related costs were prudent.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 25, 2025

How grid-enhancing technologies are shaping New York’s planning and protecting ratepayers

New technologies and planning approaches can help speed the energy transition while ensuring power system reliability and affordability.

By Schuyler Matteson • Aug. 22, 2025

Trump sets stage for more tariffs with wind turbine probe

Capstone analysts said they expect the government to expedite the investigation and apply tariffs “likely around 25%-50%” on turbines and components.

By Meris Lutz • Aug. 22, 2025

‘Backed into a corner,’ Texas regulators consider cost caps for Entergy gas plants

Entergy Texas needs new generating capacity — and soon — but regulators say the utility failed to consider potentially cheaper options to a portfolio of gas plants.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 22, 2025

PJM surplus interconnection can support 153 GW of solar, wind, storage: UC Berkeley researchers

Surplus interconnection capacity can enable rapid resource additions. “There's a demand for anything that can come online in any sort of a reasonable time frame,” EDP Renewables’ David Mindham said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 2025

DOE extends order to delay retiring Consumers’ Michigan coal plant

Emergency energy conditions may last for years in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator footprint, the Department of Energy said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 21, 2025

Arizona regulators begin process to repeal state’s renewable standard

The rule requires Arizona utilities to obtain 15% of retail electric sales from renewable energy resources by 2025. That goal has been met, but advocates say the rule is still needed.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 20, 2025

Utilities: Don’t lose out on advanced metering infrastructure with a short-term vision

There is a revolution of grid-connected devices in the making, writes Laura Sherman, president of the Michigan Energy Innovation Business Council.

By Laura Sherman • Aug. 20, 2025

To reduce electricity bills, repeal the complexity tax on energy savings

Energy waste can be cut and customer outcomes improved by consolidating and expanding efficiency and housing repair programs, writes L. Michelle Moore, the CEO of Groundswell.

By Michelle Moore • Aug. 19, 2025

NV Energy seeks FERC approval to give wind, solar developers free exit from interconnection queue

Projects with solar or wind components make up nearly 80% of NV Energy's interconnection queue.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 19, 2025

FERC approves cost allocation paths for power plants DOE ordered to run past shutdown dates

The decisions affect Consumers Energy and Constellation Energy, as well as ratepayers in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and PJM Interconnection footprints.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 18, 2025

Gone with the Wind: Ordinances in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi discourage renewable investments

When counties adopt smart, balanced rules, they protect property rights, attract investment and avoid costly legal fights. Blanket bans just stall economic growth and limit local control.

By Simon Mahan and Jamie Moody • Aug. 18, 2025

Duke Energy proposes merging its Carolina utilities, driving $3.2B in estimated savings

Combining Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress would lead to more efficient system planning and operations, according to the company.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 15, 2025

White House names Democrat Rosner to lead FERC

Agency observers expect the White House will replace Rosner once two pending Republican FERC nominees — Laura Swett and David LaCerte — are seated at the commission.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 14, 2025

$3.1B annual cost estimated for fossil fuel plants DOE won’t allow to retire

One coal plant owner told the SEC it spent $29 million in the first 38 days of an Energy Department order to keep it online.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Aug. 18, 2025

ISO-NE should make its governance transparent, accessible and accountable

With a leadership change coming in January, ISO New England has a chance to launch a new era of governance that engages with the communities it serves.

By Mireille Bejjani and Steven Botkin • Aug. 13, 2025

DOE taps 10 advanced reactor companies for expedited nuclear pilot

Oklo and its subsidiary, Atomic Alchemy, are developing three out of the 11 projects DOE selected.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 13, 2025

EPA plans to revise coal-fired power plant wastewater rules

The plan is part of a broad Trump administration effort to ease environmental rules affecting the power sector. Previously, the EPA estimated the rule would cut pollution from coal-fired power plants by more than 660 million pounds a year.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 13, 2025

Renewable power purchase agreement prices rising in wake of One Big Beautiful Bill Act

The average price of new wind and solar power purchase agreements is up 4% since the OBBBA’s passage. Almost a third of developers surveyed said they plan to suspend or cancel projects as a result of the reconciliation bill.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 13, 2025