FERC approves ISO-NE ‘asset condition’ transmission review process

Commissioners David Rosner and Judy Chang said other regions should adopt similar review processes for local transmission projects, which states and consumer advocates say need more oversight.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 19, 2026

Grading the grid: How ISOs stack up against FERC’s large-load mandate

Utilities, developers and investors are all left asking the same question: how close is each grid operator to meeting FERC’s mandate?

Oct. 19, 2026

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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

FERC proposes easing regulatory pathway for gas pipeline, LNG projects

“The only current restriction on getting American gas is our ability to get the gas to market and the infrastructure bottlenecks,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 16, 2026

Reliability standards for AI data centers, crypto miners move closer to adoption

NERC’s Board of Trustees on Monday voted to adopt reliability standards for AI data centers and other computational loads. The proposed rules now go to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for approval.

By Robert Walton • Updated Oct. 27, 2026

PJM plans to study SoftBank’s Ohio AI project under state agreement approach

The project, dubbed “Flagship,” includes 765-kV transmission lines to be built by AEP Ohio, roughly 10 GW in data center load and about 10.2 GW in gas-fired generation.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2026

FERC approves Duke large load transmission rules despite cost-shift concerns

Commissioner David Rosner said that Duke Energy Carolinas’ proposal offers “meaningful, if imperfect, new protections,” adding that consumer protections are “inadequate across the country” and FERC may need to take further action.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 13, 2026

160K customers without power in Southeastern US as Hurricane Isaias recovery enters third day

Peak outages numbered approximately 950,000. Utilities said grid modernization efforts kept more customers from losing power and sped service restoration for those who did. FPL said its underground lines performed eight times better than overhead ones.

By Robert Walton • Updated Oct. 12, 2026

US electric, gas utility rate requests spike to $4.5B in Q3: PowerLines

The cumulative value of third quarter rate requests more than doubled from the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from the advocacy group.  

By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2026

Power system plans to meet large-load demand miss near-term solutions: analysts

Major work by regional planners is focused on flexible access to existing transmission. Some say greater emphasis on advanced transmission technologies can quickly and cost-effectively create room for new large loads.

By Herman K. Trabish • Oct. 8, 2026

DOE presses PJM on ratepayer protections from large load costs

“A capability to continuously track whether a project enters into service ... or is delayed, reduced, or cancelled, can help assign costs for new generation to the customers responsible for those investments,” the DOE said in a rare filing at FERC.

By Ethan Howland • Updated Oct. 8, 2026

DC’s green energy mandate burdens those who can afford it least

The District of Columbia should review its renewable portfolio standard requirements, with solar credits adding about $20 to monthly electric bills, writes Joy Ditto, former American Public Power Association CEO.

By Joy Ditto • Oct. 8, 2026

Top electric power sector and utility conferences in 2027

Utility Dive’s curated list of notable events where energy professionals will gather to exchange ideas, demonstrate novel approaches and network for a new era of grid modernization.

By Meris Lutz • Oct. 6, 2026

A new VPP framework can center the energy transition in Illinois around customers: ComEd VP

Commonwealth Edison will file a virtual power plant framework by the end of 2027 that looks beyond batteries, writes Andrew Plenge, vice president of strategy and energy policy at the Illinois utility.

By Andrew Plenge • Oct. 6, 2026

States, renewable developers back MISO’s accelerated interconnection queue plan

“This approach can materially accelerate the processing of legacy queue cycles while preserving MISO’s responsibility to identify and address reliability concerns,” the Organization of MISO States said.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 6, 2026

Virginia hearing examiner tells Dominion to release memo on FPL investigation

Dominion said the memo wasn’t relevant to its merger with NextEra Energy, but Clean Virginia, a customer advocacy group, said it speaks to the governance “fitness” of the potential combined company.

By Charles Paullin • Oct. 5, 2026

MISO proposes fast-track large load, generation study process

The 120-day study process would be available for loads larger than 200 MW and new generation that is in the same local resource zone, which generally consists of individual states.

By Ethan Howland • Oct. 5, 2026

Senate permitting bill would expand federal role in transmission siting

The legislation gives FERC authority to issue permits for transmission projects when they are in the public interest. It also eliminates NIETCs and the federal right of first refusal for incumbent utilities and protects existing federal permits.

By Diana DiGangi • Oct. 1, 2026

Looking beyond peak: Industry coalition floats new approach to measuring grid utilization

Current grid utilization should be viewed not as a problem, but as an opportunity to advance affordability and free up new capacity, writes Ian Magruder, executive director of Utilize Coalition.

By Ian Magruder • Oct. 1, 2026

Ameren Missouri files 20-year plan with 10.6 GW of gas additions

Company executives said the plan was designed to ensure a diversity of resources to maintain reliability and manage costs. But environmental advocates said it would significantly increase the utility’s reliance on fossil fuels.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 30, 2026

The data center boom continues apace, but projects face mounting obstacles

Shortages of skilled labor and equipment, as well as local opposition, are threatening even high-profile projects backed by big tech companies. Developers are responding by embracing flexibility and alternative technologies once considered too unwieldy.

By Brian Martucci • Sept. 29, 2026

FERC rejects Oklo complaint seeking to reinstate project to PJM’s interconnection study cycle

The decision affects a 750-MW, mixed technology project in Virginia, which Oklo said would be delayed by at least 18 months if it misses the current interconnection cycle.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 25, 2026

Exelon’s climate arm backs grid-planning firm Continuum

“Technologies that help the utility be more efficient in terms of building infrastructure … is a space that we're looking at,” an Exelon executive said.

By Lamar Johnson • Sept. 24, 2026

Advanced transmission projects get $1.9B in DOE funding

The department expects the projects will add 23 GW in grid capacity and will come online in “record time” to improve the existing transmission system.

By Ethan Howland • Sept. 24, 2026

New York audits utility AI use, cites risk in ‘growing dependency’

Increasing use of AI systems to manage public utilities creates new risks for critical infrastructure, regulators said.

By Robert Walton • Sept. 24, 2026

FERC has options for modernizing PJM’s governance

The commission’s jurisdiction over transmission governance allows it to modify filing-rights allocations and adjust the PJM Interconnection’s nominating committee, writes Harvard Law’s Ari Peskoe.

By Ari Peskoe • Sept. 23, 2026