When a buried marker starts talking back: Why RFID matters for marking + mapping underground utilities

The dirt keeps secrets, RFID-enabled markers carry the story of what’s below.

March 9, 2026

Drone attack simulation exposed a grid vulnerability, utilities say

Power grid asset owners and operators have growing concern around their ability to protect critical assets from drone attacks as the U.S. government warns energy companies to prepare for possible Iranian retaliation.

By Robert Walton • March 5, 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

Tariffs drove construction input prices up to start 2026

January’s cost increases amounted to a “blistering” annualized rate of 7.1% for nonresidential input prices, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. Copper was up 80% year over year, iron and steel 58% and switchgear 67%.

By Sebastian Obando • March 3, 2026

Virginia, Indiana lawmakers pass surplus interconnection bills

Using existing surplus interconnection, such as at rarely-used peaker plants, can get generation and storage resources online faster and more cheaply than seeking new interconnection rights. PJM lags behind other grid operators in pursuing this. 

By Ethan Howland • Updated March 3, 2026

Public takeover of Tucson Electric Power would cost $4B, Brattle finds

A city-run utility would increase electric bills by $5.8 billion over 20 years, according to a study commissioned by the utility. “No one believes TEP’s accounting,” public power proponents countered.

By Robert Walton • March 2, 2026

PSEG sees investment opportunity as NJ eyes adding in-state generation

A bill was introduced this week in the New Jersey Legislature that would require a solicitation for gas-fired generation.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 27, 2026

More interregional transmission could save consumers billions: study

However, East Coast generators would see reduced revenue, giving them an incentive to oppose new transmission lines, researchers said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 26, 2026

DOE loans Southern $26.5B for 5 GW of new gas, other grid investments

Calling it the largest loan in the agency’s history, DOE said it aims to deliver over $7 billion in cost savings for Georgia Power and Alabama Power customers.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 25, 2026

ConEd eyes $38B in capital spending through 2030

The downstate New York utility company sees robust demand growth from electric vehicles and buildings amid heightened reliability challenges and affordability concerns.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 24, 2026

PJM proposes behind-the-meter reforms in data center colocation effort

The planned reform threatens the economic viability of new combined heat and power generation at industrial facilities in the PJM Interconnection, according to trade groups.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 24, 2026

What the Supreme Court tariff ruling means for construction

The court decision could drive a modest reduction in price escalation for electrical systems and fixtures, but materials-specific tariffs on steel, aluminum and copper products remain in place, experts said. 

By Sebastian Obando • Feb. 23, 2026

The electricity paradox: Driving affordability means infrastructure investment

Energy abundance, AI competitiveness and consumer affordability are not in conflict, but the power sector needs to show that growth can lower bills, not raise them, write Ray Gifford and Matt Larson from Wilkinson Barker Knauer. 

By Ray Gifford and Matt Larson • Feb. 23, 2026

PPL spending plan jumps 15%, to $23B, on transmission, grid hardening

A PPL-Blackstone Infrastructure joint venture is in talks with hyperscalers to supply their data centers with generation, including options that could be built quickly, a company official said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 23, 2026

New Jersey regulators take first step to reform electric utility business model

Performance-based ratemaking, multiyear rate plans and lower utility returns are all options the Board of Public Utilities plans to consider. It recently approved hiring a consultant to assist a potential overhaul.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 23, 2026

DOE ‘emergency’ power plant orders help grid reliability: NERC official

However, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator's reliability remains at “high risk,” NERC’s John Moura said, and it's unclear whether its fast-track interconnection process will help.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 20, 2026

FirstEnergy 5-year spending plan jumps 30%, to $36B, driven by transmission

FirstEnergy is seeking a U.S. Department of Energy loan to pay half of a $2.5 billion gas-fired power plant planned for West Virginia.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 19, 2026

Improve transmission affordability by mending the regulatory gap

A two-pronged approach to planning could target inefficient spending while also spurring investments that promote beneficial transmission, writes Advanced Energy United’s Alex Lawton.

By Alex Lawton • Feb. 19, 2026

CenterPoint peak load to jump 50% by 2029 — 2 years earlier than previously expected

Demand is growing faster than previously anticipated and is on pace to double CenterPoint’s peak load by the middle of next decade, CEO Jason Wells said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 19, 2026

CAISO requests input on large load considerations report

“We're getting a lot of questions about how the ISO manages large loads and plans for large loads,” said Danielle Mills, CAISO’s infrastructure policy development principal.

By Diana DiGangi • Feb. 18, 2026

Powering the AI era: Grid technologies for America’s rising energy demand

The electric sector should optimize existing infrastructure while also exploring emerging transmission technologies, writes the Electric Power Research Institute’s Andrew Phillips.

By Andrew Phillips • Feb. 18, 2026

PGE in $1.9B deal to buy PacifiCorp’s Washington utility operations

The deal could yield system resilience, transmission and clean energy investment opportunities as well as new large load customers, Portland General Electric officials said.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 18, 2026

Entergy sees traditional and high-tech industrials driving sales growth

The New Orleans-based company’s five regional utilities expect 8% annual sales growth through 2029 as data centers and new heavy industrial projects come online.

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 17, 2026

Hidden assets: Why data centers don’t have to be the villain

Conventional wisdom treats data centers as inflexible monsters. That characterization made sense a decade ago, but not now, writes GridX CCO Scott Engstrom.

By Scott Engstrom • Feb. 17, 2026

PJM board approves $11.8B transmission expansion plan

Dominion Energy utility lands $4.8-billion, high-voltage, direct-current underground project in Virginia as NextEra Energy-Exelon is awarded a $1.7-billion project in Pennsylvania.

By Ethan Howland • Feb. 17, 2026

DTE Energy’s 5-year spending plan jumps 20% on data center, reliability investments

The company's 2026-2030 investment plan clocks in at $36.5 billion, up from $30 billion it identified in its 2025-2029 outlook.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 17, 2026