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New York Regulator Opens Statewide Review of Estimated Utility Billing

The New York State Public Service Commission initiated a statewide proceeding to evaluate how electric, natural gas, steam, and water utilities calculate and issue estimated customer bills, signaling a broader effort to improve billing accuracy, transparency, and consumer protections. The review follows Governor Kathy Hochul’s December 2025 directive to examine whether current estimation practices remain…...

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New Jersey Approves Energy Efficiency Plan to Reduce Utility Costs

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on July 15 approved a one-year transition plan that reshapes the state’s energy efficiency programs ahead of the next program cycle, with the dual objective of lowering customer costs and preparing the electric system for a more flexible, technology-driven grid. The transition period, running from July 1, 2027,…...

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New York Establishes First-in-the-Nation Moratorium on New Hyperscale Data Centers

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on July 14 signed an executive order establishing the nation’s first statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centers, temporarily halting environmental permits for up to one year while state agencies develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for future projects. The action is intended to address the rapid growth of artificial intelligence-driven…...

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PJM Capacity Auction Again Falls Short of Reliability Target as Power Demand Outpaces Supply

PJM Interconnection on July 14 announced the results of its 2028/2029 capacity auction, marking the second consecutive auction in which committed electricity resources fell short of the grid operator’s reliability requirement. The auction secured about 138,300 megawatts of accredited capacity to serve more than 67 million customers across 13 states and the District of Columbia…....

U.S. Development Bank Ends Ban on Financing Nuclear Power Projects

New Jersey Enacts Power NJ Act to Procure 1,100 Megawatts of New Nuclear Capacity

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill on July 13 signed the Power NJ Act, establishing a competitive procurement framework for at least 1,100-megawatt of new nuclear generation as the state works to meet rising electricity demand, strengthen grid reliability, and expand its supply of carbon-free power. The legislation directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities…...

EnerKnol Research PU Visual Primer Virtual Power Plants 2026 07 14 Blog preview

Visual Primer: Virtual Power Plants – From Demonstration Projects to Grid Resources

Virtual power plants (VPPs) are evolving from demonstration projects into grid resources as states increasingly recognize the ability of aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) to support a more flexible and resilient electric grid. Recent legislative measures, regulatory actions, and utility initiatives reflect the role of VPPs in resource planning and grid operations amid growing electricity demand.

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U.S. Energy Department Approves $3.26 Billion Loan for AEP Texas to Expand Grid Infrastructure

The U.S. Energy Department on July 8 approved a loan of up to $3.26 billion for AEP Texas to expand and modernize the state’s transmission system, extending the Trump administration’s effort to strengthen domestic energy infrastructure. The financing, provided through the Office of Energy Dominance Financing, is expected to lower long-term electricity costs, improve grid…...

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New Jersey Enacts Legislation to Lower Utility Bills and Reform Data Center Electricity Costs

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill on July 7 signed three legislative measures aimed at lowering electricity costs by eliminating an added transmission incentive for utilities, strengthening oversight of utility infrastructure investments, and requiring large data centers to bear a greater share of electricity and grid costs. The legislation, together with energy affordability initiatives advanced during…...