Quantum computing is coming fast. Are utilities ready?

“The load profile is different from anything utilities have planned for before,” said Aparna Prabhakar, chief strategy and sustainability officer, energy management, for Schneider Electric.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 14, 2026

WSP capitalizes on surging US power infrastructure construction

Power now accounts for as much as 40% of the company’s revenue, CEO Alexandre L’Heureux said during a second-quarter earnings call.

By Keith Loria • Aug. 14, 2026

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

Software-based initiative could unlock up to 20% more bulk capacity: OATI

OATI seeks federal funding for widespread deployment of dynamic line rating software, near-real-time inter-regional coordination and AI-enhanced resource dispatch — none of which requires new poles or wires, the company says.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 13, 2026

ConEd plans 28 new substations by 2035

The New York-based utility company is pursuing growth through electrification, in alignment with city and state climate policies, it said last week.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 12, 2026

Dominion ordered to directly assign some transmission costs to data centers

The Virginia State Corporation Commission said it may use an upcoming docket to weigh whether this policy “could or should” also apply to more upstream transmission costs.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 12, 2026

Xcel asks Colorado Supreme Court to facilitate wind farm interconnection

In June, a district court judge rejected PSCo’s effort to acquire roughly 550 feet of easement via eminent domain to connect two nearly complete wind farms totaling more than 1 GW. The utility says the project delays are harming ratepayers.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 12, 2026

The US infrastructure buildout needs more than capital

The country is not short on infrastructure ambition; what it risks running short on is orchestration, writes Daryl Walcroft, PwC's capital projects and infrastructure leader.

By Daryl Walcroft • Aug. 11, 2026

Competitive transmission delivers benefits for the AI economy and customers

A group of incumbent utilities asked FERC to suspend competitive bidding for some transmission projects. The responsive filings are in, and the record does more than rebut the complaint — it dismantles it, writes Jim Rossi of Vanderbilt Law School.

By Jim Rossi • Aug. 10, 2026

PPL-Blackstone joint venture secures 5 GW of gas turbines for data centers in Pennsylvania

Although the PJM Interconnection aims to hold a backstop reliability auction in late September, Vincent Sorgi, PPL president and CEO, said he expects bilateral contracting will be the main pathway for adding generation in the region.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 10, 2026

The utility billing system is preventing rate and program innovation

Utilities are spending billions to modernize the grid, but the system responsible for billing customers is not keeping up, writes GridX Chief Commercial Officer Scott Engstrom.

By Scott Engstrom • Aug. 7, 2026

Constellation CEO: Existing power plants are ‘bedrock’ in supplying data centers

Constellation Energy expects Texas’ Batch Zero large load interconnection process will resume without “meaningful delay.”

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 7, 2026

Eversource Q2 income plunges on transmission ROE, offshore wind charges

Jefferies analysts cast doubt on Connecticut Light and Power’s $1 billion advanced metering infrastructure proposal, which has a negative benefit-to-cost ratio.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 4, 2026

Dominion offshore wind project cost rises nearly $300M

The increase is due to revised network upgrade costs assigned by the PJM Interconnection, tariffs imposed by the Trump administration in April and updated turbine installation projections, executives said.

By Brian Martucci • Aug. 3, 2026

Exelon ‘high probability’ data center load falls 40%

The drop to 11 GW reflects Exelon’s ability to weed out speculative projects through “transmission security agreements,” said CFO Jeanne Jones.

By Ethan Howland • Updated July 31, 2026

Texas approves AI data center co-location next to wind farm, with curtailment caveats

A final order in the case could offer an early template for other large behind-the-meter loads, requiring rapid curtailment during grid emergencies while limiting participation in demand response programs.

By Marlene Wilden • July 30, 2026

FirstEnergy data center contracts surge 50% in Q2

Mon Power, a FirstEnergy subsidiary, plans to assess a surcharge on its customers to help finance $2.7 billion in generation it is building in West Virginia, mainly for a data center.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Aug. 3, 2026

DOE mulls changes to Biden-era transformer rule, raising utility concerns

Utility associations supported the 2024 efficiency requirements for distribution transformers and oppose their repeal. The rule may threaten national security, DOE says.

By Robert Walton • July 29, 2026

CenterPoint says 14 GW likely eligible for Texas’ ‘Batch Zero’ large-load interconnection

The utility expects 50% load growth by the end of 2029, largely driven by data centers navigating Texas’ new large-load interconnection process, company officials said Tuesday.

By Robert Walton • July 28, 2026

Utility profits in the crosshairs amid affordability concerns

As states target utilities’ return on equity, Pepco’s rate case in Maryland, where the consumer advocate is arguing for an ROE cut, is being closely watched.

By Herman K. Trabish • Updated July 29, 2026

States cannot be granted filing rights under Section 205 of the Federal Power Act

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission should reject a proposal that states share “filing rights” with the PJM Interconnection and its transmission owners, former FERC Chairman Joseph Kelliher writes.

By Joseph Kelliher • July 27, 2026

The electric meter is growing a brain: Why AMI 2.0 is the grid’s next big leap and what you should do about it

The first wave of smart meters are near retirement and new meters with edge computing capabilities are arriving. Utilities have crucial equipment decisions ahead.

By Kevin Hernandez • July 27, 2026

FERC will impose reforms if PJM fails to adopt changes by September, chairman warns

There appears to be broad support for strengthening the independence of the grid operator’s board, possibly by moving to an advisory stakeholder process, and giving states more influence. Some also called for codifying the public interest in PJM’s mission.

By Ethan Howland • July 24, 2026

People are critical infrastructure, too. Utilities must do more or lose talent to tech.

With so much riding on America's AI ambitions, utility workforce strategy must have a place alongside generation, transmission and capital planning, writes Stefan Hirniak, president of Specialist Staffing Group US.

By Stefan Hirniak • July 23, 2026

DOE’s new power export rule at odds with ‘energy emergency’ findings: Public Citizen

“Any export of power ... necessarily makes that power unavailable to domestic customers,” potentially contributing to inadequate supplies for a region, Public Citizen said. 

By Ethan Howland • July 23, 2026

FERC eyes ‘grid-enhancing technology’ incentives: Chairman Swett

Data centers, competition in the transmission sector and PJM Interconnection governance reform were other key topics at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.

By Ethan Howland • July 23, 2026