Author: Graham Foster

Southern Company has shared encouraging news, reporting a 2.3% growth in retail electricity sales in the first quarter of this year compared to last year. This increase is largely attributed to the rising energy demands from data centers, which consumed 42% more power than in the first quarter of 2025. In its latest quarterly report, Southern Company announced that it currently has 28 major projects for large energy consumers, totaling 11 gigawatts (GW) under contract, a slight increase from 26 projects at 10 GW last year. Across its electric utilities in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, Georgia Power, the largest subsidiary,…

Eversource, Avangrid, and other transmission owners in New England recently requested the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to increase their base return on equity (ROE) from 9.57% to 11.39%. This request follows FERC’s decision about six weeks ago, which set the ROE at the lower rate. The transmission companies are suggesting that the new ROE should take effect on June 30. In mid-March, FERC had reduced the base ROE from 10.57% to 9.57%, a move that came after a lengthy legal battle lasting 15 years. As a result, FERC has ordered these transmission owners to refund approximately $1.5 billion to…

PJM Interconnection has announced that over 800 new generating projects, totaling a massive 220 gigawatts (GW), have entered its reformed interconnection queue. This update comes as part of PJM’s efforts to streamline processes and reduce wait times for energy project approvals. Among the new projects, there are various types of energy sources: 106 GW from gas-fired generation, 67 GW dedicated to storage, 18 GW of nuclear energy, 15 GW of solar power, and a few hybrid setups blending solar and storage, along with 5 GW of wind energy. PJM’s new procedure aims to finish reviews for these projects within one…

Summary: Octopus Energy and Lunar Energy are introducing a new electricity plan in Texas, which combines a high-capacity home battery with stable energy prices for three years. Customers can receive a Lunar Energy battery at no initial cost, paying a subscription of $45 per month along with a fixed rate of 8 cents per kWh for electricity. The battery also serves as backup power during outages. This initiative aligns with other battery-enabled electric plans in Texas, which provide low-cost energy storage and home backup in exchange for supporting the power grid. Details: Octopus Energy and Lunar Energy aim to make…

Itron, a major provider of critical infrastructure equipment, recently announced a cybersecurity breach that affected its computer networks. The company discovered the intrusion on April 13 and took immediate steps to address the situation, ensuring that unauthorized activities were removed. According to Itron, there have been no signs of further unauthorized access to its systems, and no customer data appears to have been compromised. The company, based in Liberty Lake, Washington, is well-known for its smart-meter devices, which are widely used in the electric, gas, and water sectors. Itron has partnerships with numerous local governments on smart city initiatives, aiming…

Key Takeaways: A coalition of various business groups visited Washington, D.C. to advocate for federal permitting reforms ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. During discussions with lawmakers, the Chambers for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE) highlighted that improved permitting processes could stimulate investments necessary for energy infrastructure, as noted by their policy director, Rob Bradham. CICE and allied organizations are aiming to reignite support for permitting reforms following delays faced by the SPEED Act, which has not progressed in recent months. In-Depth Insight: The SPEED Act found initial support in the House of Representatives last December, securing votes from 11…

Key Takeaway: The PJM Interconnection’s market monitor is against Constellation Energy’s request for exemptions from certain rules as the company works to reactivate the Crane nuclear power plant, previously known as Three Mile Island Unit 1, in connection with a deal involving Microsoft. Overview: To ensure the Crane unit can fully deliver power when it restarts, potentially next year, Constellation seeks to shift Capacity Interconnection Rights (CIRs) from a fossil-fueled plant set for retirement. This request requires approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). The independent monitor, Monitoring Analytics, stated that Constellation’s application does not satisfy FERC’s criteria for…

Dive Brief: A new partnership between Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative (GVEC) and Base Power will bring 50 MW of battery capacity to South Texas. The companies announced this expansion last week. This follows a successful 2-MW pilot project that showed how distributed batteries can improve system flexibility, according to Darren Schauer, GVEC’s General Manager and CEO. Tim Pianta, from Base Power, noted that the industry is shifting toward quick-deploy resources, which are vital for reliability in Texas and beyond. Dive Insight: GVEC plans to have 20 MW of distributed battery capacity by the end of 2026, aiming to add an…

Two utilities in Kentucky, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities, are working on a significant pumped storage project estimated to cost $1.3 billion. This initiative aims to enhance the state’s power supply as demand continues to climb. Rye Development, which has several pumped storage projects underway, received preliminary approval for the Lewis Ridge project from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) back in 2022. They filed for a license application in June, marking a notable moment as it’s been decades since a large-scale pumped storage plant was built in the U.S. John Crockett III, president of LG&E and KU,…

On April 1, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) officially joined the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), marking a significant shift in how electricity is managed across the Western U.S. This move is part of a larger trend where utilities are transitioning from localized operations to more coordinated regional systems. Traditionally, the Western grid has been divided into numerous balancing authorities, each managing its own supply and demand. While this gave local control, it limited the efficiency of sharing resources and optimizing transmissions to meet system-wide challenges. In contrast, organized markets like those operated by regional transmission organizations allow for better coordination…