The rate case for grid resilience: Why climate change isn’t just about storms

Utilities that delay resilience investments hoping that global climate mitigation efforts will reduce the need for local hardening are taking a dangerous gamble, writes Kai Karlstrom, director of solutions engineering at Repath.

By Kai Karlstrom • Feb. 13, 2026

Transmission drives Exelon’s capital spending plan to $41.3B

Exelon has a “line of sight” on $12 billion to $17 billion of transmission buildout over the next 10 years that isn’t included in its current capital plan, a company official said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 13, 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

AEP contracted large load pipeline doubles to 56 GW

American Electric Power’s data center pipeline in Texas surged to 36 GW by the end of December, from 13 GW in the third quarter.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 13, 2026

Data centers pursue on-site power as affordability tops utility concerns: BofA

Hyperscalers are looking to secure power fast, “firm and smooth with storage, then layer in solar as the lowest-cost marginal energy,” wrote Bank of America Securities analyst Dimple Gosai.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 13, 2026

300-MW Ameren fast-track project hits snag on DOE transmission funding uncertainty

It’s unclear if the U.S. Department of Energy will help fund a set of 345-kV projects in the Great Plains region, leaving Ameren Missouri in doubt about potential interconnection costs for its project.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 12, 2026

Electrification is outpacing investment. A federal trust fund could close the gap.

A federal trust fund for energy infrastructure could facilitate grid expansion and maintenance, writes Zane Kinsky, a Clean Energy Leadership Institute 2025 Fellow.

By Zane Kinsky • Feb. 11, 2026

CAISO shifts transmission focus to reliability to meet peak demand growth

The California Independent System Operator detailed this shift in a report prepared for the governor and legislature as part of preparations for launching a new Western regional organization to oversee electricity markets.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 10, 2026

New Jersey utilities begin to develop virtual power plants

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities asked for information from utilities on distributed energy resource hosting constraints and how new interconnections can be accelerated.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 9, 2026

AI’s power surge: 5 ways AI could make the grid more reliable, efficient and flexible

While AI is accelerating energy demand, it also holds the potential to manage the grid more efficiently. Learn the 5 ways AI could make the grid more reliable, efficient, and flexible.

By Piyush Mishra • Feb. 9, 2026

Western energy market incorporates, asks CAISO for financing help

The Regional Organization for Western Energy, an á la carte energy market, is significantly closer to launch and looking for a funding mechanism to help cover $8 million in implementation costs.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 6, 2026

Manufacturers say AEP Ohio still inflating data center demand after halving forecast

AEP cut its large load forecast by more than 50% after regulators approved a new large load tariff. But the trade group said it does not reflect PJM’s load forecast methodology. 

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 6, 2026

Utilities face cost-recovery risk as infrastructure costs, demand rise: Morningstar

With metal costs soaring, utilities will pay more for key grid parts such as transmission lines, distribution feeders and transformers, analysts with the ratings agency said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 5, 2026

AI, ICE protests and karaoke: DistribuTECH comes to San Diego

“As an industry, we’ve gone from ‘Keep the lights on and stay out of the news,’ to now being the lead story for energy independence, national security and AI development,” said Del Misenheimer, GE Vernova’s VP and CEO of grid automation and software.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 4, 2026

House lawmakers press FERC on affordability, reliability and gas

Commissioners cited inadequate transmission infrastructure as a major concern. A gas-fired project in the PJM Interconnection needs $1 billion in grid upgrades to come online, said Commissioner David Rosner.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 4, 2026

Tariffs lifted nonresidential construction costs 3.2% in 2025

Trade policy will “continue to put upward pressure on certain materials” in 2026, said the chief economist for Associated Builders and Contractors. In December, copper wire and cable jumped 22% year over year. Iron and steel were up 12%.

By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 3, 2026

Transmission planning, development improved since 2023 in most US regions: report

However, the grade for Texas slipped to a "D-” and the Southeast continues to get failing marks, according to a report released Tuesday by Americans for a Clean Energy Grid.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 3, 2026

2026 US power sector outlook

Read Utility Dive's road map to the year ahead for FERC, affordability, renewable energy, distributed energy resources and more. 

By Meris Lutz • Jan. 30, 2026

Customers, don’t expect electric bill relief in 2026: ‘The cake is baked.’

Energy affordability has long been a problem for the poorest Americans, but now middle-income families are starting to feel the squeeze.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2026

NERC forecasts peak demand to rise 24% on new data center loads

“The system is changing faster than the infrastructure needed to support it,” said John Moura, NERC's director of reliability assessments and performance analysis.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 30, 2026

Republican, Democratic senators call for project certainty at permitting reform hearing

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., said permitting talks could resume if the Trump administration stops its moves to thwart wind and solar projects.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2026

FERC in 2026: Rising costs cloud regulators’ options on data centers, transmission and more

DOE’s colocation proposal and transmission planning reforms will set FERC’s agenda this year against a backdrop of rising concern over affordability, former commission chairmen and experts say in our 2026 outlook.

By Ethan Howland • Jan. 29, 2026

How utilities can prepare for the next wave of data center growth

The U.S. grid is unprepared to handle data center power needs. Utilities want to invest, but permitting hurdles remain a major impediment, writes Nexans North America President Tim King.

By Tim King • Jan. 28, 2026

DOE expands use of emergency orders amid winter freeze

Waivers issued Monday for the PJM Interconnection, New York ISO and Duke Energy build on emergency directives the Department of Energy ordered over the weekend.

By Robert Walton • Jan. 27, 2026

In 2026, virtual power plants must scale or risk being left behind

The AI data center frenzy is shifting utilities’ focus to large-scale generation. But advocates say flexible, distributed energy resources still provide the biggest bang for the buck, according to our 2026 DER outlook.

By Herman K. Trabish • Jan. 27, 2026

The new equation for energy security in 2026

Energy systems will be shaped by those who build resilient, diversified portfolios that balance reliability, policy, emissions, cost and independence, writes Honeywell Process Technology CEO Ken West.

By Ken West • Jan. 26, 2026