TODAY’S EDITION IS SPONSORED BY:
Good morning. An object in motion stays in motion—unless the Trump administration has its way. The Interior Department is targeting Revolution Wind, a $6.2B project off the coasts of Connecticut and Rhode Island that has been cranking out electricity since March. Officials are asking a federal court to reconsider a past approval for the project…but the judge involved has a history of backing offshore wind developers. 👀
— Molly, Carrie, and the Energy Central editorial team
Every Piece Matters. The biggest project risks can hide between the pieces. See how a more connected approach can strengthen decisions, reduce risk, and improve outcomes. See how the pieces connect. Welcome - Every Piece Matters
FERC has greenlit Duke’s transmission rules for large loads in the Carolinas. ✅
Under the new proposal, large loads must: 1) Pay for at least 75% of their planned load for 15 years and 2) cover the construction costs of their needed grid upgrades (Duke will reimburse them once they’re complete), among other measures.
The verdict: These changes will help address cost-shifting and reliability risks, FERC wrote. While the plan is “not perfect,” Commissioner Lindsay See wrote, it’s “better than the status quo.” For one, See noted, Duke could’ve upped the minimum revenue contribution.
Xcel Energy wants to pause rate increases for Minnesotans until 2028.
Brrr: Xcel Energy has proposed freezing its Minnesota electric base rates for two years, pending approval from the Minnesota PUC. How? Xcel would draw on federal tax credits from planned energy storage projects, along with “cost recovery tools already approved by regulators.”
Upgrades won't have to wait: Xcel said it could still invest some $4.5B into MN’s electric system over the next two years, including $1.1B for clean energy and battery storage, and $1.4B for distribution equipment.
The timing: This announcement arrives weeks after the company pledged that data centers won’t raise its rates (amid growing customer concerns over bill increases and complaints around faulty billing).
The trend: Other utilities, including National Grid, have recently proposed similar pauses. Last year, the Georgia PSC approved Georgia Power’s plan to freeze base rates through 2028, and the utility intends to ask regulators to freeze them again in the future, a representative told us.
Build a grid ready for disruption. Discover how AI, cybersecurity and smarter planning can help utilities improve resilience and emergency preparedness. Register today!
Alabama regulators are demanding more transparency in data center deals.
What’s new: The state PSC is adopting a new process for reviewing service contracts between Alabama Power and data center companies. Now, the utility must publicly summarize these agreements, including info about projected power use. After that, the PSC will have 90 days to approve or deny the contracts (in a public meeting).
Zooming out: Consumer advocates around the country want more visibility into the contracts between data centers and utilities. Georgia Power’s agreement with Open AI, for example, caught flak due to its heavy redactions.
Apple is getting in on the smart thermostat action.
The tech giant is collaborating with Schneider Electric and LG Electronics on thermostats that can “shift heating and cooling to cleaner, lower-cost periods” for customers with compatible utility plans.
Big brother, big savings? Users can link other Apple devices, enabling the system to automatically adjust whenever they enter or leave the house. 🕵️
Catch Outage Risks Before You're Caught Off Guard. Why play guessing games with overgrown branches? See how utilities use real-time data to stop vegetation trouble in its tracks. Register Now
💦 The future of hydro depends on connecting the dots. Hear how a more integrated planning strategy can help hydropower owners identify risks, opportunities, and competing objectives earlier in the project lifecycle. Get the rundown from our partners at Kleinschmidt:
Thanks for reading. Ciao for now!
Thank you to our sponsor:
