Transmission & Distribution: Page 2
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FERC approves SPP ‘provisional load’ interconnection review process
With 26.4 GW in large load study requests since 2020, the Southwest Power Pool is developing options for data centers, manufacturing plants and other loads to connect to the grid.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 14, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
New York City could face power reliability issues beginning next year: ISO
“The NYISO’s findings should be alarming to residents and serve as another wake up call for the state,” said Gavin Donohue, president of the Independent Power Producers of New York.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 14, 2025 - 
    
    
                
                
                    Explore the Trendline➔
                
            
            
            
                
                    Brandon Bell/Getty Images 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 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
The week in 5 numbers: Utilities make it rain, wildfire costs rage on
Plus a closely watched acquisition gets the green light, the U.S. renewable outlook shrinks and more
By Meris Lutz • Oct. 10, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
    
        
    
    
        
            
                
                The image by FirstEnergy is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
            Investor-owned utilities could spend $1.1T between 2025 and 2029: EEI
U.S electricity generation rose 3% in 2024 “and is expected to rise for the foreseeable future,” the Edison Electric Institute said Tuesday.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 9, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
To keep energy affordable, Virginia must embrace power line innovation
Regulators should ensure electric utilities pursue transmission innovations rather than simply reinvesting in older technologies, writes Jeff Dennis, executive director of the Electricity Customers Alliance.
By Jeff Dennis • Oct. 9, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
Navigating the One Big Beautiful Bill era in US power markets
In today’s volatile climate, success will hinge less on predicting the future and more on preparing for it, say the authors from energy consulting firm E3 in this detailed original analysis of federal policy.
By Kushal Patel, Gregory Gangelhoff, Tali Perelman and Amber Mahone • Oct. 8, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Investor-owned utilities call for ending ‘overreliance’ on PJM capacity market
“Narrowly focusing on design changes to PJM markets has left customers exposed to reliability risks and cost uncertainty,” the Edison Electric Institute’s Drew Maloney said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 8, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
Bridging the skills gap and preparing tomorrow’s utility workforce
When veteran field techs understand how their data feeds analytics platforms or how remote inspections can save time, they don’t just adapt — they help optimize those systems, writes Dan Helman, CEO of Think Power Solutions.
By Dan Helman • Oct. 7, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Minnesota PUC approves $6.2B Allete sale to private equity
The deal with Blackrock’s Global Infrastructure Partners and a Canadian pension fund will bring about $200 million in ratepayer benefits, according to Allete.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 6, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
The week in 5 numbers: DOE slashes clean energy funding following coal ‘investment’
Plus PJM’s data center woes, record storage deployment and new generation additions.
By Meris Lutz • Oct. 3, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
    
        
    
    
        
            
                
                Retrieved from Public Utilities Commission of Texas.
            Texas PUC approves Entergy’s 500-kV SETEX transmission project
The Public Utility Commission also selected six projects to receive $381 million from the Texas Energy Fund's Outside ERCOT Grant Program.
By Robert Walton • Oct. 3, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
State frameworks are critical to addressing PJM affordability
Affordability concerns have risen in the PJM sphere due to “tightening supply and demand,” writes Senior Vice President Asim Haque. Supply has left the system due primarily to state policy and federal rules, he says.
By Asim Haque • Oct. 2, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Utility conferences to watch in 2026
See our annual list of notable power-sector conferences where industry leaders will share knowledge in a rapidly-changing landscape.
By Meris Lutz • Oct. 1, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Customers in 7 PJM states paid $4.4B for data center transmission in 2024: report
Transmission lines built for data centers fall into a "regulatory gap,” with utility customers on the hook for the costs, the Union of Concerned Scientists said.
By Ethan Howland • Oct. 1, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Democratic House bill would reverse Trump energy policies, bolster RTO oversight
The Trump administration is driving up the cost of electricity by creating barriers to clean energy investment to support higher-cost fossil fuel sectors, Rep. Sean Casten said.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 30, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    Opinion
Á la carte energy market will give Western states choice, flexibility and reliability
The new Regional Organization for Western Energy will offer affordable, reliable energy services, and states can take what they need, writes Advanced Energy United’s Brian Turner.
By Brian Turner • Sept. 26, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
    
        
    
    
        
            
                
                Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
            OpinionIt’s all one system: Integrate transmission and interconnection planning to support load growth
Maintaining disparate planning processes for the wires needed to deliver power increases costs and delays, writes FERC Commissioner Judy Chang.
By Judy W. Chang, Steven Wellner and Kathleen Ratcliff • Sept. 26, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
This week in 5 numbers: Rising demand, rising rates
A wildfire settlement and lengthy transmission timelines are also among the notable numbers in the electric utility sector this week.
By Meris Lutz • Sept. 26, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
ERCOT launches grid transformation research initiative
“We are seeing greater interest from industry and academia to collaborate on new tools and innovative technologies,” said ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas.
By Robert Walton • Sept. 26, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
2.1-GW SOO Green transmission project advances with Iowa agreement
The project developers aim to bring low-cost clean energy from the Midcontinent Independent System Operator into the PJM Interconnection while bolstering grid reliability.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 25, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
    
        
    
    
        
            
                
                Retrieved from Summit on the State of PJM Interconnection.
            PJM CEO Asthana responds to criticism, says states must address supply challenges
“If our [power] plants run into a hostile siting and permitting regime, they will not get built,” PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana said.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 24, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Analysts see possible early signs of demand growth in EIA’s latest update
Total net electricity generation and retail sales were up 3.8% and 2.6%, respectively, this July compared with the same month last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
By Meris Lutz • Sept. 24, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
States threaten to leave PJM without expanded role in grid operator
“If PJM refuses to change, we will be forced to go in a different direction,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 23, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
Utilities are backtracking on climate commitments: Sierra Club
The report named six utility companies reversing course on emissions reductions: Entergy, Duke Energy, Evergy, Cleco, American Electric Power and Arizona Public Service.
By Robert Walton • Updated Sept. 23, 2025 - 
                    
                    
                        
                    
                    
                    
FERC orders New England transmission owners to give more info on upgrade projects
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also advanced reliability standards and rules on Southwest Power Pool refunds at its open meeting on Thursday.
By Ethan Howland • Sept. 19, 2025