The Michigan Public Service Commission on Feb. 27 approved a staff proposal establishing financial incentives and penalties for electric utilities to improve their performance and enhance grid reliability. The proposal includes metrics to measure utility performance about reliability, safety, and other factors that will encourage utilities to expedite distribution system upgrades and improve grid reliability…....
The U.S. power grid is expected to add 63 gigawatts (GW) of new utility scale electric generating capacity during 2025, about 30 percent higher compared to the 48.6 GW of capacity installed during 2024, according to an Feb. 24 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The increase in new utility scale electric generating…...
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 21 approved Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines the utility’s energy resource portfolio for 2024-2040 to improve reliability, energy efficiency, and affordability. The plan includes measures to protect consumers against excessive prices, protect grid systems against extreme weather, integrate more renewable energy resources, and reduce…...
The California Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 20 approved electric resource portfolios to support transmission grid planning and help the state achieve its clean energy targets. The portfolios provide key information for the California Independent System Operator to optimize its 2025-2026 transmission planning to work toward climate goals while ensuring the reliability and affordability of…...
Residential energy costs for household heating with propane and natural gas for the current winter have increased compared to the previous winter, according to an Feb. 20 report published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency projects retail energy costs to be 10 percent higher than last winter. The agency in their Winter Fuels…...
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Feb. 20 issued an order initiating a review of challenges related to co-locating large loads, such as energy-intensive data centers, at generating facilities in the PJM region. Due to the high volume of proceedings regarding co-location in the region, the review will initially focus on PJM, the nation’s largest…...
President Donald Trump on Feb. 19 signed an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) deregulatory initiative aimed to curb federal overreach and restore the constitutional separation of powers. The order directs federal agencies to review all regulations under their jurisdiction for consistency with law and Trump administration policy, prioritizing rules that impose…...
The Texas Public Utility Commission Feb. 13 approved a new rule establishing a new program titled “Texas Energy Fund (TEF) Outside of Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) Grant Program,” to provide grants to utilities and generators outside of the ERCOT region. Grants made available through this program will support modernization, reliability, resiliency, weatherization, and…...
Southwest Power Pool on Feb. 14 announced it has received commitments adequate to support the funding essential for the second phase of its Markets+ development, following the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s approval of the Markets + tariff on Jan. 16, 2025. SPP is the grid operator for 17 states in the central and western U.S…....
President Donald Trump on Feb. 14 signed an executive order establishing a council to guide the U.S. towards energy dominance. The National Energy Dominance Council is tasked with providing advice on how best to exercise the President’s authority to increase domestic energy production, including recommending a strategy with long-range goals for achieving energy dominance by…...
The U.S. offshore wind industry is grappling with a changing landscape amid policy changes and economic challenges. President Donald Trump’s recent executive action halting offshore wind leasing and permitting has come as a major setback for the industry. While projects that have already secured…Read the full report…...