Perspective

“SEPA held its first-ever Office Hours event showcasing our new Database of Emerging Large-Load Tariffs and Agreements (DELTa) platform, jointly created with the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, drawing in regulators and utilities for a hands-on Q&A.”

“At BGE, a more targeted approach has taken shape through a partnership of Vegetation Management and the Data Science team; one that relies on data to drive decisions, not just following routine.”

“For years, utilities have expressed concern that DERs do not respond to grid conditions. These approaches are our chance to enable that, to make load and generation more collaborative and reduce the total amount of grid investment needed.”

“Next-gen advanced conductors can optimize new lines, often enabling fewer, shorter structures while providing capacity headroom for future demand growth. Take a closer look at how advanced conductors make new-build transmission projects excel for grid operators and customers alike.”

“When it comes to wetlands, interpreting the Rules of the Clean Water Act can be as clear as mud. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized, in his NARUC Summer Policy Summit fireside chat with NARUC President Tricia Pridemore, the need for clarification addressing Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and their definition.”

“I had the privilege of joining national security leaders, utility executives, cybersecurity experts, and public-private collaborators at the Qrypt-hosted summit on critical infrastructure protection. With cyber threats evolving in stealth, sophistication, and scale, this gathering was a wake-up call, and a roadmap, for utilities and regulators alike.”

“Burgeoning demand for AI data centers is already reshaping load profiles in Virginia, Texas, and other hot spots. Virginia’s data center load will approach half of the state’s overall power consumption by 2030 – up from about a quarter today.”

“This pioneering project shows that we no longer need to guess or debate whether a proposed data center will get built. We can wait until it’s mostly built (so we can be surer it’ll get finished and run), then build its off-grid power supply on nearby cheap land.”

A plethora of energy and utility experts convened on the big issues at the 2025 NARUC Summer Policy Summit, with a bullseye on demand from AI and data centers, and much more. Included are excerpts from sessions on Unpacking Challenges Facing RTOs and Designing Tariffs for Large Load Customers, as well as a conversation with NARUC President and Georgia Commissioner Tricia Pridemore and Exelon CEO Calvin Butler.

The DPU is led by Chair James Van Nostrand along with Commissioners Cecile Fraser and Staci Rubin. The PUF team discussed with them the latest events in regulation, as well as where the Bay State is headed in its energy transition. DPU Staff provided updates on what is going on in their divisions, and as a bonus, PUF Executive Editor Steve Mitnick talked with Secretary of Energy for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Rebecca Tepper.