Minnesota got one thing right on distributed storage — but it missed the bigger opportunity

Xcel Energy’s 200-MW, ratepayer-funded battery pilot is not the right model to encourage broad adoption, writes Coalition for Community Solar Access CEO Jeff Cramer.

By Jeff Cramer • April 21, 2026

FERC tees up June decision on data center interconnection reform

Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction; the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver request; and zombie dockets die.

By Ethan Howland • April 17, 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

Maryland regulators weigh investor-owned utilities’ flexible load proposals

Public Service Commission staff characterized the proposals as a good start but said they needed “additional clarity” to ensure reliable, measurable and well-located grid benefits.

By Brian Martucci • April 15, 2026

Distributed batteries get legislative, utility lift in California

SB 913 would designate residential batteries as resource adequacy capacity. Ava Community Energy’s SmartHome Battery program creates incentives for residential battery-sharing.

By Brian Martucci • April 14, 2026

As EV load grows, utilities use managed charging to harness flexibility, lower costs

Active managed charging can delay costly system upgrades while saving individual customers money on their bills, utilities, automakers and aggregators say, but a lack of standardized data-sharing is slowing adoption.

By Herman K. Trabish • Updated April 10, 2026

Energy storage pricing beginning to ‘fracture’ by product type: report

The split seems driven by battery developers supporting larger projects for data center and independent power producer clients, according to Anza Renewables.

By Brian Martucci • April 7, 2026

Nevada PUC approves NV Energy plan to join day-ahead market

The decision comes as markets are expanding in the West, with utilities opting between ones run by the California Independent System Operator and the Southwest Power Pool.

By Ethan Howland • April 6, 2026

Minnesota approves Xcel’s utility-owned battery program

Xcel will own up to 200 MW of energy storage under the second phase of its Capacity*Connect program. Solar industry groups and others called it a missed opportunity to include independent developers. 

By Robert Walton • April 6, 2026

DOE offers $50M for tribal energy projects

The funding opportunity outlines program policy factors that can influence the selection of projects for awards, including “the degree to which the proposed project will support the supply of firm, reliable power.” 

By Diana DiGangi • March 26, 2026

Michigan, New York lawmakers consider virtual power plant bills

The proposals would prohibit utility ownership of participating distributed energy resources and require reasonable access for third-party aggregators.

By Brian Martucci • March 25, 2026

Better grid utilization could save customers $170B: Brattle report

However, the report’s lead author said that “we need regulatory models that reward utilities for pursuing this opportunity.”

By Brian Martucci • March 23, 2026

To strengthen power reliability in extreme weather, diversify grid resources

More expensive, less reliable power need not be our unavoidable fate, writes NextGen Energy CEO Kimberly Johnston.

By Kimberly Johnston • March 18, 2026

Democratic House bill aims to overturn Trump electricity policies

The bill, backed by 122 House members, would reinstate clean energy tax credits and grants while aiming to speed grid interconnection to an expanded transmission system.

By Ethan Howland • March 18, 2026

Sunrun installation volumes fall in Q4 2025 as VPP capacity grows

Executives with the largest provider of residential solar and battery subscriptions in the U.S. said regulatory uncertainty and a business model shift impacted 2025 volumes and its 2026 outlook.

By Brian Martucci • March 2, 2026

Governors are promising lower power bills. Here’s the only credible path to deliver.

If we treat every new megawatt like it must be served with new poles, wires, substations and peakers, we will lock in another decade of rate shock, write Jigar Shah and Arnab Pal from Deploy Action.

By Jigar Shah and Arnab Pal • Feb. 26, 2026

Massachusetts’ least-cost 2050 peak power mix is combustion-free: report

But a top official with a regional independent power producer group said the focus now, amid rising demand, should be on “energy addition, not retirement or replacement.”

By Brian Martucci • Feb. 25, 2026

NRG has ‘zero interest’ in speculative new capacity build: CEO

“We are not going to do anything that doesn't meet our unlevered [12-15%] hurdle rate that we've announced, full stop,” said CEO Larry Coben.

By Diana DiGangi • 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

VPP vs. VPP: Customer-owned DER aggregators challenge Xcel-owned batteries in Minnesota docket

The Minnesota decision could affect how regulators see virtual power plants nationwide.

By Herman K. Trabish • Feb. 19, 2026

Efficiency, demand flexibility can meet growing data center loads — and do so cheaply: ACEEE

Large utility programs provide energy efficiency for about $21/MWh, while new combined-cycle gas plants cost at least twice that, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy said.

By Robert Walton • Feb. 18, 2026

Energy policy roadmap: What utilities can expect through 2026

Take a look at what progress has been made on Project 2025 energy sector policy recommendations to shed light on what Orennia might expect to see in 2026.

By Aaron Foyer, Director of Research • Feb. 17, 2026

Minnesota’s distributed capacity procurement decision could shape the grid far beyond its borders

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission should approve a framework that supports open, competitive participation, writes Coalition for Community Solar Access CEO Jeff Cramer.

By Jeff Cramer • Feb. 12, 2026

Data centers can tap batteries, microgrids for faster interconnection: NEMA

Battery systems are “increasingly critical” for data center operators willing to pay a premium for resilience and faster time to power, industry analysts say.

By Brian Martucci • 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