Combined NextEra-Dominion would have 130-GW large-load pipeline

Analysts said the deal, which could create the largest regulated electric utility in the world, marks a shift back toward an integrated utility model. The combined business would be “anchored by a more than 80% regulated business mix,” the companies said.

By Robert Walton • May 18, 2026

Pennsylvania releases ‘first-of-its-kind’ large-load model tariff

The guidelines call for utilities to charge large-load customers for upgrades that “would not have been needed ‘but for’ the interconnection” of that customer, “irrespective of whether other customers will benefit” from the infrastructure.

By Meris Lutz • Updated 2 hours ago

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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

How utilities can avoid data overload and turn maintenance data into action

Data collection can feel meaningless when utilities lack the tools to turn that data into improved performance or efficiency, writes Ariel Santamaria from Advanced Technology Services.

By Ariel Santamaria • May 15, 2026

FERC declines to stay $1.5B in refunds New England transmission owners owe to customers

“In order to support a stay, the movant must substantiate that irreparable injury is ‘likely’ to occur. Bare allegations of what is likely to occur do not suffice,” the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission said in its decision. 

By Meris Lutz • Updated 6 hours ago

Commercial electricity use will likely surpass residential in 2027: EIA

Meanwhile, residential prices have been growing in all regions of the United States, “and we expect this trend to continue,” the U.S. Energy Information Administration said.

By Robert Walton • May 15, 2026

Eversource misclassified $385M transmission project to avoid scrutiny: ratepayer complaint

The complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission comes amid growing concern about electric affordability and calls for stricter vetting of local transmission projects.

By Ethan Howland • May 14, 2026

US annual electricity consumption to grow 55% by 2050: NEMA

The group representing electrical equipment manufacturers expects data center energy consumption to grow 300% over the next 10 years.

By Robert Walton • May 13, 2026

PJM may be ‘too big to function’: FERC Chairman Swett

Each of the 13 states in PJM, and the District of Columbia, have “fundamentally different regulatory structures, resource portfolios and politics,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said. FERC will host a conference in July to identify potential reforms to PJM’s governance structure.

By Ethan Howland • May 13, 2026

2026 Q1 roundup: Utilities divided on data centers as affordability looms large

Physics, policy and politics are beginning to constrain some of the electric utility industry’s highest aspirations for data center-driven growth, Utility Dive learned in first quarter earnings calls.

By Meris Lutz • May 13, 2026

Con Edison to spend $29B shoring up NYC area grid as electrification rises

New York City and its suburbs are not seeing an influx of data centers like other parts of the country, but building and transportation electrification is driving gradual demand growth.

By Brian Martucci • May 12, 2026

Why procurement has become a grid reliability issue: ULE Group

Critical grid work becomes harder for utilities to keep on budget when schedules are repeatedly disrupted by missing or delayed equipment, writes ULE Group President Danielle Pirrone.

By Danielle Pirrone • May 8, 2026

EDAM is ‘solid and stable’ so far, says CAISO

The Extended Day-Ahead Market’s prices are falling within expected ranges, with steady transfer volumes in its footprint, according to the California Independent System Operator. “Battery energy storage is now a major player on the Western grid,” said CAISO CEO Elliot Mainzer.

By Diana DiGangi • May 7, 2026

Exelon lowers utility spending to ease electric affordability issues

Exelon is shifting its spending away from utility operations while boosting planned transmission expenditures, company officials said during an earnings call on Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • May 7, 2026

AEP eyes exit from PJM, SPP over slow generation interconnection

American Electric Power’s review of its market options comes amid a surge in customer demand across its multistate footprint. Its utilities have contracts for 63 GW of new large load by 2030.

By Ethan Howland • May 6, 2026

America’s load growth moment is a chance to scale distributed energy

The fastest approach to expand the grid is via the distribution system, using front-of-meter storage to precisely target substations and feeders that need relief, writes Jigar Shah of Deploy Action.

By Jigar Shah • May 5, 2026

Pennsylvania House unanimously passes advanced transmission technology bill

State regulators could require utilities such as PPL Electric, PECO Energy and FirstEnergy to integrate ATTs into proposed projects. Similar laws have been signed in at least nine states with more bills pending.

By Ethan Howland • Updated May 7, 2026

Dominion upbeat on offshore wind as cost estimate eases, sales rise

CEO Robert Blue said the 2.6-GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind farm, which began producing some electricity in March, should be fully operational by 2027 and generate approximately $5 billion in fuel savings over 10 years. The utility’s fuel and other energy-related costs jumped 67% in Q1.

By Brian Martucci • May 4, 2026

The AI electric grid calls for a mixed‑fleet transmission strategy

In the AI-era planning environment, hybridization is not a compromise — it is the engineering approach best aligned with real world system needs, timelines and locational realities, writes NYISO planning engineer Anees Jeddy.

By Anees Jeddy • May 4, 2026

New England transmission owners ask FERC for increased ROE

Eversource, Avangrid and other New England utilities seek an 11.39% return on equity weeks after FERC set it at 9.57%. Higher ROE is needed to attract capital given “current risk conditions,” such as the Iran war and supply chain constraints, they said.

By Ethan Howland • Updated May 1, 2026

FirstEnergy opposes key part of PJM data center backstop procurement plan

The PJM Interconnection’s planned backstop auction is flawed, said CEO Brian Tierney. Separately, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration will oppose rate hike requests that fail to meet affordability criteria.

By Ethan Howland • April 30, 2026

Meta deal adds to Entergy’s $57B, 4-year capital plan

Entergy’s 2026-2029 capital plan is more than 30% higher than what the company announced three months ago, and it has a pipeline of 7-12 GW of potential data center load.

By Robert Walton • April 30, 2026

CAISO expects ‘solid launch’ for EDAM, first Western day-ahead market

Mike Wilding of PacifiCorp, EDAM’s inaugural participant, told Utility Dive that 90 days of parallel operations in preparation for launch have given him confidence that “the market is working as intended and as designed.”

By Diana DiGangi • April 29, 2026

Capacity cost explosion: What PJM’s $80B bill means for the AI buildout

To avoid an era of grid instability, electric-sector stakeholders must fast-track replacement generation, deploy grid-enhancing technologies and pass permitting reform, writes EnerKnol’s Shahid Mahdi.

By Shahid Mahdi • April 29, 2026

DTE proposes $474M Michigan electric rate hike

The utility also made a conditional promise to freeze rate hikes for two years if its request is approved. State legislators are weighing a proposal to increase the minimum time between rate cases from one to three years.

By Robert Walton • April 24, 2026

Economic development group pushes Congress on permitting reform

In a ‘fly-in’ this week, the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy emphasized the economic benefits of faster permitting as electricity demand rises.

By Brian Martucci • April 23, 2026