There aren’t enough AI chips to support data center projections, report says

High-end forecasts are “not credible,” according to London Economics International, which called its report a “sanity check” on demand growth projections. 

By Robert Walton • July 9, 2025

Load growth, plant retirements could drive 100x increase in blackouts by 2030: DOE

The U.S. Department of Energy on Monday published a methodology for assessing grid reliability, but clean energy advocates say it likely exaggerates the risks of blackouts.

By Robert Walton • July 8, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

FERC rejects MISO, SPP plan to broaden scope of interregional transmission planning

One dissenting commissioner said regulators "should not stand in the way of simple solutions" that would improve study accuracy.

By Ethan Howland • July 7, 2025

How AI can improve utility storm response with increased reliability, lower ratepayer costs

With extreme weather increasing, AI can make storm response more efficient and effective for utilities, ratepayers, vendors, regulators and the various governments involved.

By Hari Vasudevan • July 7, 2025

Federal agencies, including FERC and DOE, revoke environmental review rules

The agencies eliminated all references to consider climate change, environmental justice and other key environmental issues in their permit reviews, Earthjustice said.

By Ethan Howland • July 1, 2025

SPP secures funding for second phase of Markets+ development

So far, eight power entities have signed on to funding agreements detailing how market implementation costs will be recovered.

By Robert Walton • July 1, 2025

Affordability a ‘formidable challenge’ as load shifts to tech, industrial customers: ICF

The consulting agency expects electricity prices to rise as much as 25% in some regions through 2030 due to necessary grid expansion, wildfire hardening and other infrastructure projects.

By Brian Martucci • June 30, 2025

State utility regulators urge FERC to slash ROE transmission incentive

Limiting the 0.5% extra return on equity to three years — or ending it — could lower utility income by millions annually, the utilities say.

By Ethan Howland • June 30, 2025

Electrical manufacturers publish ‘digital substation’ standards

“There are interoperability questions and there's a need for technical guidance for utilities interested in installing these ... self healing grid technologies,” NEMA Senior Vice President Patrick Hughes said.

By Robert Walton • June 27, 2025

How risk-spend efficiency puts AI at the center of utility investment strategy

As risks grow in both intensity and complexity, utilities that adopt this approach can shift from reactive planning to proactive strategy and face the future with greater confidence.

By Adam Cornille • June 26, 2025

Oncor to propose rate increase, says 5-year capital expenditures could ‘soar’ by $12B

If Texas regulators approve the rates, customers would see monthly bills rise 4.7%. Almost half of that would go to recovering storm-related costs, the utility said.

By Robert Walton • June 26, 2025

How electric companies can reduce liability risks from climate change

Upgrading infrastructure, embracing renewables and collaborating with governments and communities are no longer optional if companies want to ease legal risks and maintain social license to operate.

By Aaron Rokstad • June 24, 2025

Summer power bills are going up, federal government warns

Consumers will see a “slight increase” in power bills this summer, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said Monday. But that analysis is based on expectations for cooler weather.

By Robert Walton • June 24, 2025

CenterPoint sends mobile generators to San Antonio to support Texas grid

“CenterPoint will receive no revenue or profit from the 15 large units based on the agreement,” the utility said Monday.

By Robert Walton • June 20, 2025

AI is coming for grid-decision making. Here’s why governance can’t be an afterthought.

In the 20th century, infrastructure decisions — where to put highways, site power plants or make upgrades — often reinforced inequities. AI threatens to replicate that pattern — at scale and at speed.

By Brandon N. Owens • June 18, 2025

Google, CTC Global partner to deploy advanced conductors

To find out where advanced conductor deployment could best bolster transmission, the companies are issuing an RFI.

By Diana DiGangi • June 16, 2025

Microgrids keep the lights on for wildfire-prone California facilities

But federal tax changes under consideration in Congress could make microgrids more expensive for schools and localities that provide services during emergencies.

By Brian Martucci • June 16, 2025

States, ratepayer advocates urge FERC to reject MISO petition to limit market monitor oversight

The dispute grew out of Potomac Economics’ criticism of assumptions the Midcontinent Independent System Operator used to justify a roughly $22 billion transmission expansion plan.

By Ethan Howland • June 16, 2025

Will ERCOT’s streamlined connect-and-manage approach work for other markets?

ERCOT’s single-state, energy-only interconnection process doesn’t include other markets’ deliverability requirements and generator cost certainty needs.

By Herman K. Trabish • June 16, 2025

Michigan regulators order reliability improvements for Consumers Energy, DTE

The Public Service Commission ordered the utilities to tackle 75 recommendations identified in an audit completed last year, focused on reliability and storm restoration times.

By Robert Walton • June 16, 2025

Meeting the challenge of FERC Order 881: Why open source matters for AAR implementation

With ambient-adjusted ratings compliance deadlines set for mid-July, TROLIE offers an open, vendor-neutral standard for the secure, efficient exchange of transmission line rating data.

By Tory McKeag • June 13, 2025

Batteries are making the grid more reliable: NERC

Last year in Texas, there were times when batteries provided all of the capacity for frequency regulation services, according to the watchdog’s 2025 State of Reliability report.

By Robert Walton • June 13, 2025

Prioritize ‘impactful’ power sources for interconnection: DOE’s Wright

“We need to look at that [interconnection queue] process and prioritize projects that are impactful and make it move faster and more efficiently,” DOE Secretary Chris Wright said.

By Ethan Howland • June 11, 2025

Electrical manufacturers back bill to assess energy supply chain

The Electric Supply Chain Act would direct the Department of Energy to assess the power generation and transmission supply chains and report to Congress within one year.

By Robert Walton • June 9, 2025

Data center growth and the imperative of economic discipline

Grid access must be treated as a scarce, priced product. That means building markets for interconnection capacity, avoiding socialized costs and ensuring that those who impose system costs bear them.

By Terry Harvill and August Ankum • June 5, 2025