The Western energy market must shift as power flows evolve, say experts

The WECC-1 RAS “does not consider south-to-north flows, and frankly, it is something I'm worried about,” said Bonneville Power Administration system dispatcher Chris Sanford during a Western Market Seams workshop.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 19, 2026

Pennsylvania dangles permitting carrot for data centers that bring their own power

Under a new permitting framework for loads over 25 MW, applicants that commit to abide by the state’s recently introduced infrastructure development standards for data centers will receive preferential treatment.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 19, 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

CAISO’s load-balancing EDAM math doesn’t add up, says CPUC staff

The California Public Utilities Commission’s Energy Division staff asked the California Independent System Operator to publish methodology explaining discrepancies in its public Extended Day-Ahead Market data.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 18, 2026

ISO-NE to review ‘asset condition’ transmission projects under proposal filed at FERC

The class of projects, which are chosen and built by transmission owners, mainly to replace aging infrastructure, with limited oversight, have long been a source of complaint by New England states and ratepayer advocates.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 18, 2026

DOE cancels 3 national transmission corridors, citing ‘Green New Scam’

The agency previously said the projects would provide resource adequacy support to the PJM Interconnection, bolster transmission between the Southwest Power Pool and WestConnect regions, and address a lack of high-voltage transmission in tribal areas.

By Diana DiGangi • Aug. 17, 2026

FERC approves MISO cost recovery plan for transmission projects built in PJM

In its decision affecting Exelon and Duke Energy utilities, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected calls to require the planned projects to go through a bidding process.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 17, 2026

2026 Q2 roundup: Utilities emphasize project execution and ratepayer protections

Executives tried to show they can secure the equipment needed to meet rising demand without shifting costs to existing customers as politicians take aim at data centers ahead of the midterm elections.

By Meris Lutz • Aug. 17, 2026

When the capital plan outgrows engineering capacity

When teams spend less time managing internal processes, they can spend more time advancing projects.

Aug. 17, 2026

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 • Updated Aug. 17, 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

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