ERCOT’s Final Winterization Report Confident That Texas Grid Is Prepared for Winter Weather

New York Commission Approves Climate Resiliency Plans of Major Utilities

The New York State Public Service Commission on Dec. 19 approved climate change resiliency plans filed by Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Consolidated Edison Company of New York or Con Edison, National Grid, and Orange & Rockland Utilities (O&R). In its order, the commission rejected Con Edison and O&R’s proposal to develop a Storm…...

Maine Governor Endorses Avangrid’s $1 Billion Hydropower Transmission Line

Texas Commission Adopts New Rules to Improve Residential Demand Response

The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Dec. 12 established new rules to improve demand response for residential electricity consumers through smart responsive device programs. The new rule implements legislation enacted by the 88th Texas Legislature in 2023, which sets a target to decrease the total power consumption of customers participating in residential demand response…...

Utility Power Shutoffs

Midcontinent Grid Operator Announces Approval of $30 Billion Transmission Expansion Plan

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) Board of Directors on Dec. 12 approved the 2024 MISO Transmission Expansion Plan, a grid expansion plan with a portfolio consisting of 488 transmission projects totaling $30 billion. The projects cover 5,000 miles of transmission lines across 15 states and aim to strengthen grid reliability in the face of…...

Transmission requirements

District of Columbia Initiates Integrated Distribution System Planning Proceeding for Electric Utilities

The District of Columbia Public Service Commission on Dec. 4 launched a proceeding to initiate an Integrated Distribution System Planning, or IDSP, process to proactively prepare the electric grid to support the demands of the clean energy transition and integrate distributed energy resources such as solar power and energy storage. The commission issued a draft…...

FERC Proposes Broad Transmission Planning and Cost Allocation Reforms

U.S. Energy Department Announces $4.9 Billion Conditional Loan Guarantee to Major Midwest Power Line

The U.S. Energy Department on Nov. 25 announced a conditional commitment for a loan guarantee of up to $4.9 billion to Grain Belt Express LLC to help finance a high-voltage direct current interregional transmission project. The 2,500-megawatt (MW) power line would run approximately 578 miles between Kansas and Missouri. The transmission project – Grain Belt…...

Maine Governor Endorses Avangrid’s $1 Billion Hydropower Transmission Line

FERC Updates Transmission Planning Rule to Expand State Role

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued an order largely affirming its transmission planning and cost allocation rule, with changes to enhance the ability of state regulators to take part in the planning process. The order is in response to requests for rehearing of the original order – Order No. 1920 – adopted in May…...

Maine Governor Endorses Avangrid’s $1 Billion Hydropower Transmission Line

New York Grid Operator Highlights Growing Risks to Statewide Electric System Reliability

The New York Independent System Operator on Nov. 21 released its 2024 Reliability Needs Assessment, or RNA, which evaluates the reliability of the state’s power grid from 2028 to 2034 based on projected peak power demand, planned transmission system upgrades, and anticipated changes in the generation mix over the next decade. The RNA highlights a…...

grid infrastructure eia

U.S. Utility Spending Over Two Decades Rose Due to Grid Investments: EIA

Major utilities have increased their annual spend to produce and deliver electricity over the last two decades, according to an Nov. 18 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Annual spend rose 12 percent from $287 billion during 2003 to $320 billion during 2023. The increase in annual spend can be attributed to capital…...