We at PJM need realistic solutions, not politics, to take on energy challenges

Some public narratives have presented an inaccurate picture of the PJM Interconnection’s role in cost-effectively keeping the lights on. Here are the facts.

By Aftab Khan • Aug. 6, 2025

An FAA rule will revolutionize energy infrastructure inspections. It just got a big boost.

A new executive order accelerates the timeline for beyond visual line of sight regulations for commercial drone operations, which will give utilities improved inspection capabilities.

By Ulrich Amberg • Aug. 5, 2025

Explore the Trendline➔

Electricity Supply and Demand

After nearly two decades of flat demand, U.S. electricity consumption reached an all-time high in 2024 and is expected to continue rising. This trendline brings together the best of Utility Dive’s coverage of emerging trends in supply and demand and the decisions being made today that will impact the power system for years to come. 

By Utility Dive staff

Independent power producers hit back at utility critics over PJM price surge

“I'm still hard-pressed to find an example where a vertically-integrated utility has delivered a new generating project on time and under budget and had any accountability in the way that wholesale power generators do,” said the Electric Power Supply Association’s CEO.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 5, 2025

Designing transmission lines with construction safety in mind

Proactive integration of construction in transmission line design boosts safety and site efficiency.

By Jess Kurpius & Zach O'Toole • Aug. 4, 2025

AEP expects to add 24 GW of load by 2030, mainly from data centers

More than half of the pending load is in Texas, where AEP Texas is set to interconnect 5 GW of cryptocurrency operations, per William Fehrman, AEP president and CEO.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 1, 2025

Xcel Energy ‘prepared to go to trial’ to fight Marshall Fire liability

The company contends that it did not start the late 2021 Colorado blaze, which caused an estimated $2 billion in damages.

By Emma Penrod • Aug. 1, 2025

PPL Electric ‘advanced-stage’ data center pipeline grows 32%, to 14 GW

PPL supports legislation in Pennsylvania that would allow utilities to own power plants, CEO Vince Sorgi said.

By Ethan Howland • Aug. 1, 2025

5 utility commissions ask FERC to undo MISO’s $22B multi-value transmission portfolio

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator overstated the benefits of transmission projects approved in December, according to a complaint at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

By Ethan Howland • July 31, 2025

Data center flexibility can save money but may come with higher emissions: MIT

In Texas, where renewable energy is booming, data center emissions fell by up to 40% in the MIT modeling of flexible data center workloads. In other regions, however, emissions rose.

By Robert Walton • July 30, 2025

Want abundant energy? Ask who benefits from scarcity.

Achieving energy abundance requires reforming electricity markets, refreshing electric utility regulation and rethinking the way we pay for grid infrastructure.

By Arjun Krishnaswami • July 30, 2025

Trump’s AI action plan calls for dispatchable resources and grid upgrades

The plan is in line with previous actions by the Trump administration to delay the shuttering of coal plants, but it also acknowledges the need for enhanced efficiency and transmission.   

By Meris Lutz • July 28, 2025

FERC orders changes to PJM’s grid interconnection process, plus 3 other open meeting takeaways

Required changes include cost allocation for network upgrades, consideration of grid-enhancing technologies and energy storage modeling.

By Ethan Howland • July 25, 2025

US electricity demand to grow 2.5% annually through 2035: BofA Institute

Building electrification, data centers, industrial growth and electric vehicles are among the factors contributing to growth, according to the prediction.

By Robert Walton • July 24, 2025

DOE cancels $4.9B conditional loan commitment for Grain Belt Express

Invenergy, the project's developer, said earlier this month that the proposed 800-mile line was “the target of egregious politically motivated lawfare.”

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2025

Electric utilities will invest more than $1.1T by 2030 to meet demand growth: EEI

The electric utility sector’s capital expenditures “are higher than any other sector in the U.S. economy,” Edison Electric Institute President and CEO Drew Maloney said.

By Robert Walton • July 23, 2025

PJM leadership openings are an opportunity to chart a new course

Rather than addressing the root causes of its problems, the organization blames states for supply and infrastructure shortages, often defending the very policies that are driving up customer costs.

By David Lapp • July 22, 2025

Texas must balance speedy data center buildout with risk of stranded costs: stakeholders

All loads should pay for a portion of transmission, “regardless of whether they're co-located or have behind the meter generation,” said Clif Lange, general manager of South Texas Electric Cooperative.

By Robert Walton • July 22, 2025

FERC rejects MISO petition to limit market monitor’s transmission planning oversight

The dispute grew out of Potomac Economics’ criticism of assumptions the Midcontinent Independent System Operator used to justify a roughly $22 billion transmission expansion plan.

By Ethan Howland • July 21, 2025

Governors seek more influence over PJM amid ‘crisis of confidence’

Nine governors representing the majority of electric customers in the grid operator’s footprint said they want a say in filling two vacant board seats. 

By Ethan Howland • Updated July 18, 2025

Trump taps Project 2025 contributor to fill vacant FERC seat

David LaCerte works at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. He served during Trump’s first term and helped on Project 2025, the conservative road map to “deconstruct the Administrative State.”

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 2025

With Blackstone venture, PPL is ‘biggest winner’ from data center summit

The Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit, which President Trump attended, touted heavy investments in AI and power infrastructure. Jefferies analysts said PPL scored a victory there.

By Ethan Howland • July 17, 2025

Law judge calls for Minnesota PUC to reject $6.2B Allete private equity deal

The proposed private equity model isn’t in the public interest, an administrative law judge said.

By Ethan Howland • July 16, 2025

Georgia Power’s new IRP keeps coal plants online to serve data centers

The integrated resource plan approved by regulators on Tuesday also calls for up to 4,000 MW of renewable resources by 2035 and more than 1,500 MW of storage.

By Robert Walton • July 16, 2025

Google Cloud to pour more than $25B into AI infrastructure across PJM

The investment will expand the hyperscaler’s data center footprint across the largest U.S. power grid over the next two years.

By Matt Ashare • July 15, 2025

The regulator’s dilemma: balancing grid modernization with rising power bills

Load growth and aging infrastructure require investment, but customer electricity prices are up 4.5% nationally, almost twice the 2.4% national inflation rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Herman K. Trabish • July 15, 2025