Regulation & Policy

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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    In an era of rising rates, policies to strengthen power system flexibility can lower costs

    The right policies can provide grid flexibility, which reduces demand-driven rate spikes and protects consumers while allowing utilities to build out the grid, experts say.

    By • Oct. 29, 2025
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    Courtesy of City of Cheyenne, Wyoming
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    FERC rejects Tri-State’s large load tariff over retail jurisdiction issues

    The decision comes as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is considering a U.S. Department of Energy proposal for interconnecting data centers and other large loads to the grid.

    By • Oct. 29, 2025
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    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
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    Andrew Harnik via Getty Images
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    US partners with Westinghouse, Cameco and Brookfield on $80B nuclear deployment

    Westinghouse AP1000 reactors will be utilized in a national deployment that will create more than 100,000 construction jobs, the companies said.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Maryland should resist rewriting utility monopoly laws

    The state should embrace competition, innovation and accountability from power distributors, generators and utility regulators, writes Adam Dubitsky, state director for the Land & Liberty Coalition of Maryland.

    By Adam Dubitsky • Oct. 28, 2025
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    The image by AsNuke is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Google-NextEra, Santee Cooper announcements signal new life for defunct nuclear projects

    “Restarting a once fully operational plant is the fastest path to unlock large-scale nuclear power to meet AI growth in the near-term,” Google said Monday.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
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    The image by Acroterion is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Kentucky utility, AG challenge PJM’s regional cost allocation plan for DOE ‘emergency’ orders

    Load-serving entities shouldn’t be required to pay for costs they didn’t cause, East Kentucky Power Cooperative and Kentucky’s attorney general told the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    Opinion

    What utilities need to get right to scale generative AI

    To use artificial intelligence safely and at scale, utilities need to start with the right architecture, define a data strategy and build the right compliance foundations, write Vijay Narayan and Syama Sundar Peesapati of Cognizant.

    By Vijay Narayan and Syama Sundar Peesapati • Oct. 27, 2025
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Residential electricity prices up more than 6% in August: EIA

    Developers, analysts and policy professionals see growing cause for concern as costs rise. 

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
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    Retrieved from WIRES Group.
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    Surging load growth requires flexibility, new approaches: FERC’s See

    “There's a pretty broad range, in my view, of what ‘just and reasonable’ can be, especially when we have new situations and urgency,” FERC Commissioner Lindsay See said.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
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    Courtesy of Public Service Electric and Gas
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    US electric utilities entering investment ‘super-cycle,’ says Morningstar DBRS

    U.S. electric utilities will spend $1.4 trillion from 2025 to 2030, the firm said. They face challenges around data center demand forecasting, rising rates and regulatory lag.

    By • Oct. 27, 2025
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    akinbostanci via Getty Images
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    Sponsored by West Monroe

    Reimagining the utility operating model for a digital future

    Reimagine your digital operating model to elevate customer experience and drive transformation.

    By Michael Menendez, Senior Partner, Energy & Utilities, West Monroe • Oct. 27, 2025
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    Retrieved from U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
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    Trump taps Swett to lead FERC

    Under Republican Laura Swett’s leadership, FERC can “strengthen market design and unlock billions in private investment to meet record demand,” said EPSA President and CEO Todd Snitchler.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    FirstEnergy expects peak load to grow 45% by 2035 on data centers

    In the first nine months this year, electric sales grew 1% from the same period in 2024 but were essentially flat on a weather-adjusted basis. The company anticipates “more meaningful” increases starting in the fourth quarter.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
  • A Mitsubishi Power M501JAC combustion turbine is delivered to Georgia Power's Plant Yates.
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    Courtesy of Georgia Power/Mitsubishi Power
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    The week in 5 numbers: The electricity price report everyone is talking about

    Plus utility identity fraud, turbine backlogs and more.

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
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    Nic Antaya via Getty Images
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    $1.6B in clean energy investments were rolled back in September: E2

    More than $24 billion in clean energy investment has been withdrawn so far this year, according to E2. The group said $11 billion in new projects were announced over the same period.

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Entergy
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    Opinion

    Gas reliance will worsen the energy affordability crisis

    Utilities and regulators should consider other options before investing in gas plants and making customers pay the inflated price, writes Cassady Craighill, technical education director at GridLab.

    By Cassady Craighill • Oct. 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Lightshift Energy
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    PJM poised to add more storage following surplus interconnection reform

    The grid operator’s new fast-track interconnection review is dominated by gas but also includes about 2.3 GW of storage projects that could be online much sooner.

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
  • North American Electric Reliability Corp. President and CEO Jim Robb speaks to federal regulators
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    Retrieved from FERC.
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    NERC president warns of ‘five-alarm fire’ for grid reliability

    “The reliability of the power grid remains extremely high, but, paradoxically, the risks to reliability continue to mount,” the North American Electric Reliability Corp.’s Jim Robb told federal regulators.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
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    Eric Geller/Utility Dive
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    Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s industry partnerships slashed

    The latest round of sweeping layoffs could significantly impede CISA’s relationships with critical infrastructure organizations in healthcare, energy, water, finance and other sectors.

    By Eric Geller • Oct. 22, 2025
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    Courtesy of Pennsylvania governor's office
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    Opinion

    States should think twice before taking steps to exit PJM

    If officials believe the PJM Interconnection capacity market is not ensuring resource adequacy, or is doing so at excessive prices, they should turn their efforts to market reforms, writes former FERC Chair Joseph Kelliher.

    By Joseph Kelliher • Oct. 22, 2025
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    Maryland’s EmPOWER efficiency program not meeting low-income goals: OPC

    Most utilities in the state are on track to meet emissions goals associated with the efficiency program. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development is not.

    By • Oct. 22, 2025
  • Aerial view of the Silver Peak Lithium Mine, showcasing a vast desert landscape with a network of rectangular evaporation ponds in varying shades of blue and green. These geometric pools are interlaced with earthen pathways and surrounded by arid terrain, illustrating the industrial scale of lithium extraction in a remote environment.
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    Alamy
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    DOE cancels $700 million in battery and manufacturing project grants

    A DOE spokesperson said the projects had missed milestones and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
  • Fervo Energy's Project Red enhanced geothermal facility near Winnemucca, Nevada.
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    Permission granted by Fervo Energy
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    FERC rejects NV Energy plan to allow free exit from interconnection study

    Geothermal projects have surged to 3.3 GW in NV Energy’s interconnection queue, which grew 30% in the last three months.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
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    Getty Images
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    NorthWestern plans ‘large load’ tariff for Montana data centers

    Advocates say the utility plans to serve at least three data centers that could scale up to a load of 2,250 MW — nearly twice its current peak. NorthWestern said it is in talks with potential data center customers but has no agreements.

    By • Oct. 21, 2025
  • Nissan and Volkswagen electric cars sit parked at a Charge Point EV charging station.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    To keep power affordable, regulators must rethink who pays — and when

    A growing body of evidence shows that widespread residential electrification can actually reduce average rates, but only under the right conditions, write Becky Li and Joe Daniel of RMI. 

    By Becky Li and Joe Daniel • Oct. 20, 2025