Exelon, FirstEnergy utilities’ RTO adder targeted by Maryland in FERC complaint

Maryland state agencies asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to end an extra 0.5% return the transmission owners earn for being PJM Interconnection members.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2026

Southwestern Public Service wins $113M reliability grant from Texas

The Texas Energy Fund has allocated more than $4 billion as part of the state’s effort to boost grid reliability. The award to SPS covers a drone-based pole inspection program and live monitoring.

By Robert Walton • July 6, 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

AI is reshaping the grid. Utilities need capacity that can move faster.

New large loads arrive in months. Grid upgrades take years. Fast storage helps close the gap.

By Nate Walkingshaw, Torus Founder and CEO • July 6, 2026

From wildfire risk to resilience: How asset investment tools can mitigate the growing challenge

A shift in asset investment planning can help utilities quantify risk and defend wildfire mitigation plans to regulators, stakeholders and the public, writes Jeff Pauska at IFS Copperleaf.

By Jeff Pauska • June 30, 2026

Sen. King urges FERC to reject $67B NextEra-Dominion merger

NextEra Energy’s efforts to kill the New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project is a sign of how the combined utility could stifle competition and harm consumers, the Maine senator said.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2026

PJM opposes waiver for $2B gas-fired plant in fast-track interconnection review

Gas turbine backlogs prompted Advanced Power Services to seek changes to its project in PJM’s fast-track Reliability Resource Initiative interconnection review, but the grid operator said granting such a waiver would be unfair to other developers.

By Ethan Howland • Updated June 30, 2026

Data centers are ready to negotiate flexibility for speed

Hyperscalers want their data centers online and utilities want to provide interconnections, but experts say both are still looking for common operating guidelines.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 26, 2026

A month into EDAM, the data already shows two very different grids

The new Western day-ahead market is starting to show where resource mixes, operating constraints and carbon policies create fundamentally different economic outcomes.

By Tapas Peshin • June 25, 2026

Texas landowners seek pause in $2B, 765-kV transmission line case over notice concerns

The Permian Basin power line request says property owners were not properly notified after route changes. The build-out is tied to growing ERCOT grid needs.

By Marlene Wilden • June 25, 2026

Grid operators making ‘significant progress’ on generator interconnection reform: AEU

However, there isn’t yet evidence that interconnection requests are being processed more quickly, according to Advanced Energy United.

By Ethan Howland • June 24, 2026

GETs, demand response can ease near-term data center electricity price pressure: report

Data centers could use up to 15% of all U.S. electricity by 2030, up from 5% in 2024, Berkeley Lab researchers said in a separate analysis.

By Ethan Howland • June 23, 2026

Texas, facing 438 GW queue, approves initial large-load interconnection process

The first projects to navigate the process will be called “Batch Zero." The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says its large-load queue is almost 90% data centers.

By Robert Walton • June 22, 2026

6 takeaways from FERC’s data center interconnection decision

If RTOs fail to address large-load concerns identified by FERC, the agency will dictate the solutions, per FERC’s David LaCerte. “I say this not as a threat, but as a statement of duty,” he said.

By Ethan Howland • June 22, 2026

Fewer storms, not less risk: El Niño will bring mixed results across US power systems

The climate pattern should reduce Atlantic storm activity this year, but utilities still face localized power outage concerns as flooding and wildfires shift to other parts of the country, experts say.

By Marlene Wilden • June 18, 2026

Maryland lawmakers back data center transmission cost complaint at FERC

The PJM Interconnection improperly makes ratepayers pay for data center-driven transmission projects that don’t benefit them, according to Maryland's ratepayer advocate.

By Ethan Howland • June 18, 2026

New 339-mile transmission line brings Canadian hydropower to NYC

The Champlain-Hudson line is expected to meet up to 20% of New York City’s electricity needs, bringing clean energy from Montreal to the Astoria Energy Complex in Queens.

By Robert Walton • June 17, 2026

Northeast states eye offshore HVDC transmission as Trump drops wind fight

Three reports published Monday lay out recommendations for development of an offshore transmission system and highlight the potential for high voltage direct current technology.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2026

Utility sector outlook deteriorates on affordability concerns: Fitch

Utilities are expected to make $240 billion in capital expenditures this year, but political and regulatory pressure could put timely cost recovery at risk, the ratings agency said.

By Ethan Howland • June 15, 2026

Connecticut AG, agencies ask FERC to cut Eversource, Avangrid RTO adder

A new state law requires the utilities to participate in ISO New England, making them ineligible for an extra 0.5% return on equity, according to a complaint filed at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • June 12, 2026

Transmission projects bolster New York, New England summer reliability: NPCC

The region should have adequate resources to meet typical electricity demand, but some areas may need to implement emergency procedures or rely on imports during grid stress, NPCC said.

By Robert Walton • June 11, 2026

Appeals court upholds FERC decision ordering refunds from MISO transmission owners

Eversource Energy and other transmission owners in New England could see ramifications from the ruling that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission can order refunds for multi-year periods.

By Ethan Howland • June 11, 2026

FERC approves PJM fast-track review for ‘shovel-ready’ power projects

PJM will consider up to 10 interconnection requests annually over two years for resources of at least 250 MW that can come online in three years.

By Ethan Howland • Updated June 10, 2026

In PJM, power developers are ready to build but need data center contracts, transmission

Over 55 GW of generation has cleared PJM’s interconnection queue process and 220 GW just entered its latest review cycle, writes Glen Thomas, president of the PJM Power Providers Group.

By Glen Thomas • June 9, 2026

FirstEnergy asks FERC to require data centers to pay for transmission interconnection costs

FirstEnergy’s proposal adopts a cost allocation practice from the gas pipeline sector. It comes ahead of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s expected large load interconnection decision on June 18.

By Ethan Howland • June 9, 2026

FERC approves SPP non-firm, large-load transmission service

The Southwest Power Pool service aims to help data centers and other large loads get online quickly, but they can have their service cut when grid conditions are tight.

By Ethan Howland • June 8, 2026