Regulation & Policy
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OpinionAlaska’s energy challenges require a national response
Alaska energy modernization should be treated as a national infrastructure priority, writes Northwest Public Power Association CEO Kurt Miller.
By Kurt Miller • April 22, 2026 -
Ethan Miller via Getty Images
Court curtails Trump administration moves to stifle wind, solar development
The preliminary injunction will go into effect while litigation plays out over a series of federal actions that have blocked or delayed renewable energy projects. The ruling affects about 57 GW in projects, representing about $905 million in invested capital.
By Ethan Howland • April 22, 2026 -
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TrendlineTop 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 -
Courtesy of Avangrid
New England states urge FERC to advance $1.5B in ratepayer refunds
Governors and utility regulators asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to dismiss a request by Eversource and Avangrid to stay the refund order while a court weighs an appeal. The dispute has already spawned 15 years of litigation.
By Ethan Howland • April 21, 2026 -
Joe Raedle via Getty Images
OpinionLa Plata Electric CEO: Why Western utilities are moving toward regional markets
Following its transition into the Southwest Power Pool, LPEA expects an immediate reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of roughly 20%, along with reduced wholesale power costs, writes Chris Hansen.
By Chris Hansen • April 20, 2026 -
shutterstock.com/Kewiko
Sponsored by OracleThe single-platform utility: A competitive advantage in the age of AI
Many utilities still run different technological worlds without a common platform and data foundation. Learn how a single platform can increase business speed while reducing risks and costs.
By Oracle • April 20, 2026 -
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PECO withdraws $510M in rate hike proposals over affordability concerns
“We recognize that Pennsylvanians are struggling with basic necessities like gas, food, and energy and have decided to withdraw our proposal,” said David Vahos, president and CEO of the Exelon subsidiary.
By Ethan Howland • April 17, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
Congress presses DOE’s Wright on Energy Star, permitting reform
Energy Secretary Chris Wright didn’t offer plans for DOE’s full takeover of the Energy Star program. He agreed to work with Congress on methane rules and permitting reform.
By Diana DiGangi • April 17, 2026 -
Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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 -
Courtesy of Georgia Power
OpinionAfter 2 years, ratepayer pain and political fallout from Georgia’s nuclear plant Vogtle
Texas built 36 GW of solar and storage in four years, for about $36 billion. Georgia built 2 GW of nuclear in 15 years at the same cost, writes Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy.
By Patty Durand • April 17, 2026 -
Kayla Bartkowski via Getty Images
Wright defends actions on coal plants, funding cuts in testy House hearing
When pressed, the energy secretary said that money for home energy efficiency rebate programs, which has been frozen since last year, would “probably” be released in a “few weeks.”
By Diana DiGangi • April 16, 2026 -
Alamy
OpinionWhy reforming rooftop solar and battery permitting belongs on every state affordability agenda
The hurdles that stop families from installing home energy upgrades are firmly within the control of state governments, writes Permit Power founder Nick Josefowitz.
By Nick Josefowitz • April 16, 2026 -
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FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’
“American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.
By Ethan Howland • Updated April 17, 2026 -
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OpinionAn outdated FERC policy is undermining the White House’s ratepayer protection pledge
FERC should revisit its transmission pricing policy and require utilities to assign the full costs of service to power-hungry data centers, writes Harvard’s Ari Peskoe.
By Ari Peskoe • April 15, 2026 -
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Colorado legislature sends ‘advanced transmission technology’ bill to governor
The bill requires Xcel Energy, Black Hills and Tri-State to assess the potential for grid-enhancing technologies to bolster the bulk power system, reduce wildfires and increase interstate power flows. Other states are following suit.
By Ethan Howland • April 15, 2026 -
Drew Angerer via Getty Images
Regulators approve Georgia Power’s BYO clean resources plan for large loads
Eligible projects can be located in other states as long as they can deliver power to Georgia Power under an approved interconnection framework, Jamie Barber of the Georgia Public Service Commission told Utility Dive.
By Brian Martucci • April 14, 2026 -
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Maryland General Assembly passes rate relief measure to lower utility bills by $150/year
The bill reflects growing concerns among U.S. regulators and policymakers about the level of utility spending and how that affects affordability, an equity analyst said.
By Ethan Howland • April 14, 2026 -
Joe Raedle/Getty Images via Getty Images
Iran war impacts on oil prices spiked construction stress, increased abandonments
Construction saw a 22.8% surge in project abandonments month over month in March, according to ConstructConnect. Other analyses have found commercial construction weakening outside the data center boom.
By Sebastian Obando • April 14, 2026 -
OpinionThe need for speed: FERC must exempt transmission projects from regulatory bottlenecks
Order 1000 has failed to deliver savings and has instead driven higher costs for customers, writes Purvi Patel at ITC Holdings.
By Purvi Patel • April 14, 2026 -
Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
PJM proposes adding 14.9 GW with bilateral contracts, central procurement
In the first part of a two-phase plan, the grid operator would help match buyers, including data centers and other large loads, with sellers of new generation. States and utilities may seek to lower the procurement target over affordability concerns.
By Ethan Howland • April 13, 2026 -
Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
DOE proposes slashing non-defense spending on energy
The proposal would shrink DOE’s non-defense spending by “slashing Green New Scam initiatives,” including more than $15 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, the White House said.
By Meris Lutz • April 10, 2026 -
Courtesy of Terra-Gen
Terra-Gen to pay $5.6M to settle CAISO market manipulation charges
The renewable energy company failed to follow orders to store electricity in a battery system when power prices were high, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
By Ethan Howland • April 10, 2026 -
Retrieved from Tennessee Valley Authority/Wikimedia Commons.
EPA proposes weakening power plant coal ash protections
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin framed the proposal as “commonsense changes,” but environmental advocates say it could permit coal plant owners to minimize, delay or avoid cleanup.
By Robert Walton • April 10, 2026 -
Retrieved from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
OpinionStates are already working on solutions to large-load challenges
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has never regulated retail load interconnections before and should leave it to the states, who have done it for decades, writes former FERC Chairman Mark Christie.
By Mark Christie • April 9, 2026 -
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Entergy, Xcel, others seek to upend competitive transmission bidding in MISO, SPP
Ending competition for regional transmission would be “counterproductive and not in the interest of consumers,” former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Chairman Neil Chatterjee told Utility Dive.
By Ethan Howland • April 9, 2026 -
Diana DiGangi/Utility Dive
Virginia grid utilization bill set to become law
A growing body of research suggests increased grid utilization has broad benefits for utilities and customers, but experts say advanced metering technology is needed to unlock its full potential.
By Brian Martucci • April 8, 2026
