Gas continues to dominate Entergy plans as data center pipeline grows

The company has agreements for several notable large load projects with Google and Meta and expects substantial load growth from commercial and industrial customers through 2029.

By Brian Martucci • Nov. 3, 2025

Southern inks 7 GW of large load contracts, eyes 50 GW more

The company saw sales growth across all customer classes in the third quarter. Data center usage up was up 17% year over year, according to a Thursday earnings presentation.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 31, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

AI in the Power Sector

Artificial intelligence is uniquely positioned to impact the electricity industry from both ends: as the technology driving large load demand growth and as a tool with the potential to make the power system more efficient. 

By Utility Dive staff

The week in 5 numbers: Rising power prices amid a utility ‘super-cycle’ spending spree

Plus the federal government makes moves on nuclear development and large load interconnection.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 31, 2025

AEP capital spending plan surges 33%, to $72B, in utility ‘super-cycle’

Even with the increasing spending, American Electric Power expects it can limit residential rate hikes to 3.5% a year over the next five years, company officials said during an earnings call on Wednesday.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 30, 2025

DTE inks first data center deal to grow electric load 25%

The utility has a five-year, $30 billion investment pipeline to potentially serve 8.4 GW of data center load, officials said Thursday.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 30, 2025

Mainstreaming AI data center flexibility

Software solutions can protect AI workload service-level agreements and still allow data centers to respond to grid needs, writes Arushi Sharma Frank, adviser to Emerald AI.

By Arushi Sharma Frank • Oct. 29, 2025

FERC rejects Tri-State’s large load tariff over retail jurisdiction issues

The decision comes as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering a U.S. Department of Energy proposal for interconnecting data centers and other large loads to the grid.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 29, 2025

Google-NextEra, Santee Cooper announcements signal new life for defunct nuclear projects

“Restarting a once fully operational plant is the fastest path to unlock large-scale nuclear power to meet AI growth in the near-term,” Google said Monday.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 28, 2025

What utilities need to get right to scale generative AI

To use artificial intelligence safely and at scale, utilities need to start with the right architecture, define a data strategy and build the right compliance foundations, write Vijay Narayan and Syama Sundar Peesapati of Cognizant.

By Vijay Narayan and Syama Sundar Peesapati • Oct. 27, 2025

Residential electricity prices up more than 6% in August: EIA

Developers, analysts and policy professionals see growing cause for concern as costs rise. 

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 27, 2025

Surging load growth requires flexibility, new approaches: FERC’s See

“There's a pretty broad range, in my view, of what ‘just and reasonable’ can be, especially when we have new situations and urgency,” FERC Commissioner Lindsay See said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 27, 2025

US electric utilities entering investment ‘super-cycle,’ says Morningstar DBRS

U.S. electric utilities will spend $1.4 trillion from 2025 to 2030, the firm said. They face challenges around data center demand forecasting, rising rates and regulatory lag.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 27, 2025

In ‘unusual’ move, DOE proposes rule to expand FERC’s authority over large loads

Reactions were mixed. Analysts said they expected investor-owned utilities and possibly some states to object, while a former FERC chair questioned the impact on grid reliability and costs for other customers. 

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 24, 2025

NERC president warns of ‘five-alarm fire’ for grid reliability

“The reliability of the power grid remains extremely high, but, paradoxically, the risks to reliability continue to mount,” the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s Jim Robb told federal regulators.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 22, 2025

States should think twice before taking steps to exit PJM

If officials believe the PJM Interconnection capacity market is not ensuring resource adequacy, or is doing so at excessive prices, they should turn their efforts to market reforms, writes former FERC Chair Joseph Kelliher.

By Joseph Kelliher • Oct. 22, 2025

FERC rejects NV Energy plan to allow free exit from interconnection study

Geothermal projects have surged to 3.3 GW in NV Energy’s interconnection queue, which grew 30% in the last three months.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 21, 2025

ISO New England launches cluster study of 26 battery, wind and solar projects

The projects have a combined summer rated capacity of about 8 GW. The transitional cluster study is the first under a new review framework and is expected to be completed in August 2026.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 21, 2025

Residential electricity prices surge ahead of C&I rates: Berkeley Lab

State behind-the-meter policies and renewable portfolio standards appear to increase electricity prices, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 20, 2025

The week in 5 numbers: DOE backs transmission, Amazon’s dozen nuclear reactors

Plus a group of solar projects in Nevada face uncertainty and California funds offshore wind.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 17, 2025

FERC orders MISO to clarify how merchant projects will be included in transmission planning

Also, the agency aims to issue a colocation decision this year while its staffing has plunged 11%, FERC Chairman David Rosner said Thursday at an open meeting.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 17, 2025

21 Democratic House members press PJM for interconnection reforms

The lawmakers called on the PJM Interconnection to bolster rules for energy storage and grid-enhancing technologies while considering options such as “connect and manage.”

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2025

DOE closes $1.6B loan commitment for AEP transmission rebuild

The loan guarantee will help an American Electric Power subsidiary rebuild around 5,000 miles of transmission lines across Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

By Robert Walton • Oct. 16, 2025

How community benefits agreements can reduce project delivery risk

Working with communities to develop energy or other projects can help developers deliver on-time and on-budget, and with a strong foundation of local support.

By Sameera Fazili, Pronita Gupta and Doug Bloch • Oct. 15, 2025

Public disclosures of AI risk surge among S&P 500 companies

A report by The Conference Board shows companies are flagging concerns about cyber and reputational risk as they increase deployment.

By David Jones • Oct. 15, 2025

PJM’s market monitor urges FERC to review Amazon data center’s effect on costs, reliability

The issue centers on an unprecedented agreement between PECO Energy and Amazon Data Services that aims to protect utility customers from costs related to a planned data center complex in Pennsylvania.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 15, 2025