Grid Security & Reliability

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    Opinion

    Is nuclear the key to powering the data center boom?

    To fulfill the promise of an energy renaissance, nuclear resources must overcome complex operational, financial and workforce challenges, writes POWWR Director Nainish Gupta.

    By Nainish Gupta • Oct. 3, 2025
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    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 • Oct. 3, 2025
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    Alexi J. Rosenfeld via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Reliability

    A curated selection of recent stories that explore advances in policy and technology to address reliability, as well as the reliability risks the U.S. power system is facing.

    By Utility Dive staff
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    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 • Oct. 1, 2025
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    Permission granted by nVent
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    Sponsored by nVent

    Why every utility should consider EMP hardening

    EMP protection empowers utilities to safeguard the grid and ensure reliable energy delivery.

    By Laura Longston • Sept. 29, 2025
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    Marc Piscotty via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 26, 2025
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    Courtesy of Pennsylvania governor's office
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    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 • Sept. 23, 2025
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    The image by Analogue Kid is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    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 • Updated Sept. 23, 2025
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    Permission granted by Kraken
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    Sponsored by Kraken

    Understanding everyday consumers: 3 things we learned from 10,000 energy customers

    The Empowering Energy Consumers Barometer surveyed 10,000 consumers across 10 countries to understand how the average energy customer sees the current landscape.

    By Nicole Wilson • Sept. 22, 2025
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    Opinion

    The future of virtual power plants is technology agnostic

    Interoperability is crucial for deploying certain consumer technologies efficiently at scale, writes Molly Podolefsky, a managing director at Clarum Advisors.

    By Molly Podolefsky • Sept. 19, 2025
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    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 • Sept. 19, 2025
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    Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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    New FERC Chairman Rosner outlines priorities: ‘We need to build, build, build.’

    At the agency's open meeting, Commissioner Lindsay See highlighted the tension between issuing orders swiftly and ensuring those decisions are “worth their weight” in court.

    By • Sept. 19, 2025
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    Brandon Bell/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    DOE seeks comment on large-scale generation, transmission development

    The “Speed to Power” initiative could boost grid reliability and affordability, but only if all energy resources are included, said John Moore, director of the Sustainable FERC Project.

    By • Updated Sept. 22, 2025
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    Retrieved from House Committee on Natural Resources.
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    Bipartisan NEPA reform proposal gets electric utilities’ support

    The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development Act would shorten permitting timelines and establish judicial review limitations.

    By • Sept. 15, 2025
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    Permission granted by Consumers Energy
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    Opinion

    DOE’s emergency orders create a moral hazard

    The U.S. Department of Energy’s use of Federal Power Act authority to keep retiring fossil fuel plants online could trigger a vicious cycle that ultimately jeopardizes grid reliability.

    By Jennifer Danis • Sept. 12, 2025
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    Courtesy of Eaton
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    Xendee and Eaton partner to expand microgrid solutions for facility, campus managers

    Eaton took a minority stake in the microgrid optimization platform as part of the deal, which Xendee said would add services and functionality for microgrid designers, developers and end users.

    By Brian Martucci • Sept. 9, 2025
  • Drone aerial view of Microsoft datacenters along highway A7 in the province Noordholland near Wieringerwe.
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    Utilities could add 147 GW of new large loads, boosting peak demand 20%: WoodMac

    Most large loads under construction are located in regulated markets, but there is growing interest in siting these projects in deregulated markets, according to a new report.

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Adobe Images - by @_ greta

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    Sponsored by West Monroe

    Analytics and AI for utilities: Unlocking efficiency and reliability

    Optimize operations, cut costs, and drive a sustainable future with advanced analytics.

    By Amanda Mastrosimone, Senior Manager, Utilities, West Monroe • Sept. 2, 2025
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    IEP plans 944-MW behind-the-meter gas plant to power PA data center

    Energy storage will be built alongside the gas plant, and there will be a backup grid connection, project partners said. It’s unclear what regulatory approvals are needed for the project to move forward.

    By • Aug. 28, 2025
  • Mutual assistance crews working with CenterPoint Energy work to restore power around Houston, Texas, following Hurricane Beryl.
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    Danielle Villasana/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    Texas regulators trim, approve $2.7B CenterPoint system resiliency plan

    CenterPoint's January resiliency plan had a $5.75 billion price tag. A settlement cut the ask to $3.2 billion, and the Public Utility Commission of Texas trimmed further on Thursday.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
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    Ungvar/Adobe Stock

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    Sponsored by American Wire Group

    Building resilience: how utilities can prepare for the next major storm

    5 ways utilities can boost storm resilience—before, during and after the next big event.

    Aug. 25, 2025
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    David Ramos via Getty Images
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    FBI, Cisco warn of Russia-linked hackers targeting critical infrastructure organizations

    The intrusions have exploited a vulnerability in Cisco’s networking equipment software.  

    By Eric Geller • Aug. 21, 2025
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    Permission granted by Consumers Energy
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    DOE extends order to delay retiring Consumers’ Michigan coal plant

    Emergency energy conditions may last for years in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator footprint, the Department of Energy said.

    By • Aug. 21, 2025
  • People cool off in the shade of a bridge along Chicago's Riverwalk
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    30 years after Chicago’s deadly heatwave, cooling should be recognized as a right

    The 1995 heatwave that killed more than 700 people made clear that access to reliable, affordable energy is not a luxury, the authors write. 

    By Qëndresa Krasniqi, Diana Hernández, Vivek Shastry and Rachel Scheu • Aug. 21, 2025
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    Managed EV charging could generate $30B in annual savings by 2035: report

    Carefully managing electric vehicle demand could cut all U.S. electric bills by 10% annually, regardless of whether a customer owns an EV, according to new research from ev.energy.

    By • Updated Aug. 27, 2025
  • Aerial view of a data center in Sterling, Virginia and a new data center being constructed in the background.
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    Data center vacancies plummet amid power supply constraints

    “Power has become the new real estate,” said Andrew Batson, head of U.S. data center research at JLL.

    By Matt Ashare • Aug. 19, 2025