Change 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

New 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

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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

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

Beyond 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

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

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

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

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

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

3 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

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

Ohio ratepayer advocate urges FERC to resolve 3-year-old local transmission complaint

Since the complaint was filed, FirstEnergy, AEP and other Ohio utilities have planned more than $4.3 billion in local transmission without adequate oversight, the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 28, 2026

Trump declares emergency, moves to block some foreign-made equipment from grid

Grid equipment manufacturers say more clarity will be needed, particularly around rules for software and digital products where the country of origin may be difficult to determine.

By Robert Walton • Aug. 27, 2026

Data center load made up 9% of PJM wholesale costs so far in 2026: market monitor

Overall wholesale power costs in the PJM Interconnection jumped 46% to $56.7 billion so far this year, driven by rising energy and capacity costs, per the grid operator’s market monitor.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 27, 2026

US-Canada trade war threatens electricity imports, prices

If Canada opts to reduce or eliminate electricity exports to New England, the impact would be largely financial — at least under typical weather conditions, according to the region's grid operator. A previous 25% tariff in 2025 lasted only a day.

By Robert Walton • Updated Aug. 25, 2026

Bills rise when utilities use conflicting forecasts to drive gas and electric investment

Integrated planning can lower costs to ratepayers by reducing duplicative spending, and New York could lead the way, write experts at Current Energy Group and Advanced Energy United.

By Brad Cebulko and Sarah Steinberg • Aug. 24, 2026

Commonwealth Fusion Systems aims to complete demonstration reactor with $1B funding round

CEO Bob Mumgaard said the reactor, SPARC, is now “about 80% complete.” Experts remain divided over how soon they believe fusion technology could be commercialized.

By Herman K. Trabish • Aug. 24, 2026

Microsoft, PowerHouse Hillwood dispute data center service agreements

Data center agreements in Wisconsin fail to protect ratepayers, Microsoft says. Separately, PowerHouse Hillwood has accused Exelon’s ComEd of using monopoly power to quash an agreement for an Illinois data center.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 24, 2026

FERC approves SPP ‘topology optimization’ plan for cutting grid congestion

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator’s power market has saved nearly $100 million this year under a similar approach for topology reconfiguration.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 20, 2026

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

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