Transmission & Distribution: Page
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Courtesy of Ameren
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 -
Courtesy of Joby Aviation
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 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Noah Berger via Getty Images
TrendlineAI 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 -
Permission granted by Esme Howland
OpinionFERC 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 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
FERC rejects ComEd’s cancellation of PowerHouse Hillwood data center contract
A 1.8-GW, $20 billion data center planned by PowerHouse Hillwood was underpinned by a $1 letter of credit — “less than the price of a cup of coffee” — that drew skepticism from FERC Commissioner David LaCerte.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 23, 2026 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Deep DiveEfforts to curb data center speculation gain ground across the US
Large-load tariffs and other measures to weed out speculative projects are taking shape. Public backlash to data centers, shifting state-level policies and the utility profit model are complicating those efforts, stakeholders say.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 23, 2026 -
Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
OpinionIt’s time for utility bill reform
Programs that serve broad public purposes should be financed through state general funds rather than hidden in your electric bill, writes Marc Brown at the Consumer Energy Alliance.
By Marc Brown • Sept. 22, 2026 -
Getty Images
Other New England states back Maine’s RTO adder complaint
The complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is part of a trend of states seeking to end an extra 0.5% return utilities can earn for voluntarily joining a transmission organization.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 22, 2026 -
Brandon Bell via Getty Images
Texas PUC adopts softened rules on data center interconnection
The Public Utility Commission of Texas backed off the standards it proposed in March, eliminating a non-refundable interconnection fee and extending energization milestone deadlines.
By Diana DiGangi • Updated Sept. 21, 2026 -
Heather Diehl via Getty Images
Newsom vetoes bill to create California PUC inspector general
On Monday, Newsom signed a package of laws aimed at data centers, including strengthening energy reporting requirements and requiring regulators to create new rate structures.
By Meris Lutz • Updated Sept. 21, 2026 -
Courtesy of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
New York regulators approve 90-mile transmission line
The $3.3-billion project aims to improve downstate power delivery by 2030. It is being developed by New York Transco and the New York Power Authority.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 21, 2026 -
Permission granted by Owen Equipment
Sponsored by Blaze EquipmentBlaze Equipment expands east with new Baltimore location and launches online ordering nationwide
Blaze expands nationwide with online ordering, rentals, equipment and expert support.
Sept. 21, 2026 -
Zach Gibson / Stringer via Getty Images
Microsoft ‘preserving its ability’ to challenge data center transmission costs decision
It has until November to formally appeal the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s order to directly assign some costs of transmission. Dominion Energy has an October deadline to propose compliant policy changes.
By Diana DiGangi • Sept. 18, 2026 -
Courtesy of Hitachi Energy
Hitachi to double US production of small and medium-sized power transformers
A Mississippi facility will produce transformers in the 10 MVA to 160 MVA range, designed for voltages up to 230 kV. The additional capacity “is expected to help alleviate industry-wide supply constraints,” a Hitachi official told Utility Dive.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 18, 2026 -
Courtesy of Meta
House passes ratepayer protection bill to limit data center cost shifts
The bill would “largely reinforce” a transition that is already underway as more states adopt large-load tariffs and is unlikely to pass the Senate before the midterm elections, according to ClearView Energy Partners.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 17, 2026 -
Retrieved from U.S. House energy subcommittee.
OpinionChange 4 mindsets to build a more resilient US grid: NERC CEO Jim Robb
While the challenges of building new power infrastructure are real, some of the obstacles that need to be overcome are self-limitations embedded in a deeply rooted mindset, writes Robb.
By Jim Robb • Sept. 15, 2026 -
John Moore via Getty Images
OpinionNew York ISO’s independence is critical when the grid is stressed
This summer’s Champlain Hudson Power Express outage highlights the importance of an independent grid operator, writes Zach Smith, senior vice president of system and resource planning at NYISO.
By Zach Smith • Sept. 11, 2026 -
Brett Carlsen via Getty Images
Unplanned power plant outages fell sharply during 2025/26 winter storms: FERC-NERC report
Improved preparations and interregional power transfers played key roles in avoiding blackouts during bitter cold in early 2026, according to the agency and grid watchdog.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 11, 2026 -
Getty Images
OpinionBeyond Category 5: What extreme hurricanes mean for electric utilities
As storm behavior changes, grid planning frameworks need to keep pace with evolving risk profiles, write Michael Levy and Sarah Pearl of management consulting firm Baringa.
By Michael Levy and Sarah Pearl • Sept. 10, 2026 -
Courtesy of Microsoft
Google, Xcel, others back MISO’s ‘zero injection’ large-load proposal
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator's proposal would fast-track reviews for generating projects that supply large loads served by the same substation, including colocated loads.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Courtesy of NextEra Energy
West Virginia regulators reject delay in review of NextEra’s MARL project
The PJM Interconnection selected the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link in 2023 as part of its regional expansion plan, but there are questions about the need for the project and its route.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 9, 2026 -
Getty Images
Bonneville eyes switch to CAISO’s EDAM from Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+
BPA’s Travis Kavulla outlined governance-related criteria that need to be met for the federal power marketer to join the Extended Day-Ahead Market run by California’s grid operator.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 8, 2026 -
Courtesy of Red E
PG&E sees rising interest in ‘customer-driven’ flexible interconnection pilot
The Flex Connect program allows larger distribution-connected loads to energize in months instead of waiting “several years” for firm interconnection, the Northern California utility says.
By Brian Martucci • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Getty Images
Transmission expansion could spur billions in savings, especially in PJM: study
About a dozen inter- and intraregional projects in the Eastern Interconnection could help meet load growth, lower retail electric rates, bolster reliability and support U.S. security, the study found.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 2, 2026 -
Getty Images
Opinion3 principles to make AI data centers good grid citizens
Developed intentionally, AI data centers can help create a more resilient and affordable electric system, write officials from Heron Power, NVIDIA, Invenergy and Emerald AI.
By Drew Baglino, Vlad Troy, Michael Polsky and Varun Sivaram • Sept. 1, 2026 -
Mario Tama via Getty Images
Wildfire costs loom over California legislative session that passed solar, data center bills
The California Legislature did not vote on a wildfire reform bill during a special session Tuesday, effectively killing the proposal. The bill had implications for electric utilities.
By Diana DiGangi • Updated Sept. 2, 2026
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