The U.S. Energy Department’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing on Oct. 28 announced the financial close of a $5.1 billion loan package for Alliant Energy to expand power generation and strengthen grid reliability in Iowa and Wisconsin. The financing will support more than 2.6 gigawatts of new or upgraded capacity, including natural gas-fired power plants,…...
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein on Oct. 27 urged the North Carolina Utilities Commission to strengthen proposed rate protections for data centers and other large electricity users, requiring them to cover the full costs of their energy consumption, including generation, and provide their own clean energy resources. Governor Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson recently…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Oct. 9 partially approved PJM Interconnection proposal to track large electricity users but rejected its proposed capacity requirements and emergency curtailment framework. The decision follows PJM’s warning that it could face a capacity shortfall beginning in the 2027/2028 delivery year due to data center load growth and the pace…...
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 9 approved two credit programs totaling $122.5 million to reduce electricity bills for Minnesota Power customers. The measures will return proceeds from utility land sales and benefits associated with the acquisition of ALLETE to customers, providing short-term relief and recurring credits through 2031. Minnesota Power will distribute $72.5…...
The U.S. Energy Department on Oct. 9 expressed its support for Federal Energy Regulatory Commission recommendations for PJM Interconnection’s proposed Reliability Backstop Procurement, seeking to ensure that large electricity users pay for the generation and infrastructure needed to serve their demand. DOE has filed a statement with FERC supporting revised market rules and other reforms…...
Duke Energy on Oct. 7 announced that it had reached an agreement with North Carolina Public Staff and major data center customers to strengthen protections against costs associated with serving data centers and other large electricity users. The agreement covering Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress would require new large load customers to make…...
The Maryland Public Service Commission on Oct. 1 announced that it has concluded the state’s multi-year rate plan pilot after finding that the framework did not deliver measurable benefits for customers or advance the state’s energy policy goals. The regulator instead directed electric utilities and stakeholders to develop a substantially revised approach to forward-looking utility…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 29 approved PJM Interconnection’s proposed Reliability Backstop Procurement to secure additional electricity supply amid near-term reliability concerns, but suspended the measure for five months, delaying its effective date to Feb. 28, 2027. The action gives the regulator additional time to consider the procurement framework while placing the proposal…...
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Sept. 25 launched a statewide investigation into the affordability of electric and natural gas service, opening a broad review of how regulatory decisions, state and federal requirements, and other cost drivers affect customer bills. The effort will examine whether the commission’s existing oversight tools are sufficient to address affordability…...
