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

Explore the 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

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

California approved a gas pipeline solution. Now comes the hard part.

SB 1221 offers a rare opportunity to align climate action with lower bills and prudent spending of ratepayer dollars, writes Jalal Awan at The Utility Reform Network.

By Jalal Awan • April 2, 2026

Reject Talen-Energy Capital power plant deal, PJM market monitor tells FERC

Power plant owners are consolidating generation in the PJM Interconnection, which could drive up electricity and capacity prices, Monitoring Analytics told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • April 2, 2026

Texas opens $350M advanced nuclear grant program

"Texas is streamlining the nuclear regulatory environment and making investments to spur a flourishing nuclear energy ecosystem,” said Gov. Greg Abbott.

By Robert Walton • April 2, 2026

Expect retail electricity prices to rise further: LBNL/Brattle

Record investor-owned utility rate increase requests and approvals last year “suggest additional near-term price increases absent policy/market actions,” according to an analysis.

By Robert Walton • April 1, 2026

PECO seeks $429M rate hike, partly to reduce power outages

PECO’s capital expenditure to net plant ratio is higher than that of 16 peer utilities, indicating a higher risk level, said a Brattle Group representative who testified in support of the rate request.

By Ethan Howland • April 1, 2026

Large load tariffs proliferate as states take more active role in data center regulation

In 2025, state regulators approved 29 large load tariffs, and more are on the way. Experts say it’s too soon to know if the tariffs are working as intended, but utilities should prepare for tougher scrutiny amid affordability concerns.

By Meris Lutz • March 31, 2026

Before we build more gas pipelines, we need better data

Building energy infrastructure takes years, billions of dollars and massive political capital. Better data costs a fraction of that, write researchers at three universities.

By Burçin Ünel, Anamika Dubey and Chiara Lo Prete • March 30, 2026

AMP, ratepayer advocates oppose ROE, rates proposed for $1.1B AEP-FirstEnergy transmission project

The proposed rates fail to protect ratepayers from data center-driven transmission costs, the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • March 30, 2026

PJM data center colocation plan takes fire from Vistra, data center group, others

“Even a customer that brings sufficient co-located generation to meet its load cannot avoid curtailment risk,” the Data Center Coalition told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. “It is unclear why a customer would pursue this pathway at all.”

By Ethan Howland • March 27, 2026

Southeast, lower-cost PJM states offer model for affordable grid expansion

The vertically integrated utility model shows it is possible to build new generation and protect customers from steep rate increases, writes former FERC Commissioner Bernard McNamee.

By Bernard L. McNamee • March 26, 2026

Michigan, New York lawmakers consider virtual power plant bills

The proposals would prohibit utility ownership of participating distributed energy resources and require reasonable access for third-party aggregators.

By Brian Martucci • March 25, 2026

PJM’s crisis has a simple solution: Copy what works in regulated states

The competitive market was supposed to produce lower prices, but when faced with the first big demand shock in decades, it delivered chaos, writes Power for Tomorrow President Brad Viator.

By Brad Viator • March 25, 2026

Pepco Holdings CEO talks rising demand, affordability and PJM market reforms

Adding power supplies in PJM — including utility-owned generation — is one way to address affordability challenges, says Pepco Holdings CEO Tyler Anthony.

By Ethan Howland • March 25, 2026

Puget Sound’s vehicle-to-home charging pilot combines demand response, peak shaving, resilience

The test will use electric vehicle batteries for demand response and residential peak shaving while also making their storage capacity available during power outages.

By Brian Martucci • March 24, 2026

DOE extends emergency operations at 2 Indiana coal plants

Since December the plants “have proven critical” to operations in the Midcontinent ISO region, DOE said. Sierra Club says they cost consumers almost $200,000 per day.

By Robert Walton • March 24, 2026

Maryland ratepayer advocate calls for greater transmission oversight as costs rise

Costs to customers in the state could reach $5.4 billion for transmission built from 2031 through 2035, compared with $7.1 billion spread over the previous 20 years, according to the advocate.

By Ethan Howland • March 24, 2026

5-year waits and rising costs: How demand is redefining the gas turbine market

Lengthy lead times are likely to continue for now, and reliability in that environment depends on early, informed decisions, writes Electric Power Research Institute Senior Program Manager Bobby Noble.

By Bobby Noble • March 23, 2026

‘Emergencies’ requiring coal plants to stay open need not be imminent, DOE tells court

States, environmental groups and others have sued the U.S. Department of Energy over its repeated emergency orders to run the J.H. Campbell plant in West Olive, Michigan, saying it failed to show the emergency need.

By Ethan Howland • March 23, 2026

DOE taps SoftBank arm to develop 9.2 GW of gas generation in Ohio

SB Energy, a subsidiary of Japan’s SoftBank Group, is also investing $4.2 billion with AEP Ohio to upgrade and build new transmission lines in Southern Ohio.

By Robert Walton • March 20, 2026

FERC rejects RWE complaint over PJM interconnection practices

The agency also slashed New England’s transmission return on equity and said it would allow two Indiana utilities to spread costs stemming from DOE emergency orders keeping coal plants online across MISO’s northern and central regions.

By Ethan Howland • March 20, 2026

Winter storms underscore data center threats to grid reliability, affordability

Demand from the data center boom, combined with worsening extreme weather events, put our electric system at heightened risk, writes Union of Concerned Scientists Senior Manager Mike Jacobs.

By Mike Jacobs • March 19, 2026

DOE emergency orders for fossil plants complicate utility planning, experts say

Lawyers and officials are divided on whether the “stay-open” orders threaten states’ ability to regulate their own energy systems. Environmental groups put the cost to ratepayers in the hundreds of millions, and growing.

By Brian Martucci • March 19, 2026