The numbers: In 2024, municipal utilities reported an average disconnection rate of 12.3%, while electric co-ops reported an average rate of 7.8%. That’s according to recently released EIA data analyzed by the Energy & Policy Institute. These organizations were led by: South Kentucky RECC (with 86 residential electric disconnections per 100 customers), Jackson County REMC (with 78 residential disconnections), and the City of Camilla in GA (with 77 residential disconnections).

On the IOU side: For that same year, US IOUs reported an average residential shutoff rate of 6.3%. The top-ranking IOUS: Public Service Company of Oklahoma (with 58 residential electric disconnections per 100 customers), Centerpoint Energy in TX (with 38 residential disconnections), and Oncor Electric Delivery in TX (with 36 residential disconnections).

The context: This is “the clearest look yet” at residential shutoff rates for customers late on bills, the Energy & Policy Institute wrote, and it highlights “the uneven patchwork of rules determined by state lawmakers and regulators.” For example, many states have protections that only apply to IOU customers—so people served by municipal and co-op utilities lack these legal defenses.

The low-interest loans will help five projects secure steam generators, pressure vessels, and other parts for Westinghouse AP1000s—notorious for their specialized components that can take years to make and acquire. 

The timeline: By helping new nuclear builds get materials more quickly, the funds could help reactors come online up to three years quicker, according to Office of Energy Dominance Financing Director Gregory Beard. For a notoriously slow industry, that’s some impressive speed (after all, Georgia’s Vogtle Power Plant fell around seven years behind schedule).

Big picture: It’s the DOE’s latest (massive) step toward fulfilling President Donald Trump's executive orders to kick off construction on 10 large nuclear reactors by 2030.

The bill: The Ratepayer Protection Act, introduced last week by Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Gabe Evans (R-CO), juggles two aims: 1) protecting households from rising power bills and 2) advancing the AI industry. Specifically, it would order states to consider a standard to make large loads cover new generation and transmission upgrade costs.

The blowback: While Google and Microsoft have cheered on the bill, the Data Center Coalition hasn’t made up its mind yet. And on Capitol Hill, some Democrats want stricter legislation that also includes environmental and community protections. The bill is teed up for a subcommittee vote today.

Each region has made “meaningful progress” over the past 18 months…but that progress varies, according to a candid new report from Grid Strategies and The Brattle Group.

Who’s leading the pack: SPP and CAISO have made “promising improvements,” according to the report, including the former’s Consolidated Planning Process (which has also received high praise from FERC). 

Who’s lagging behind: On the other end, the report claims MISO has made “incomplete progress” as study delays (and restudies) pile up. The solution? Ramp up automation to sift through those mountains of documents, the authors suggested.

The context: A 500K-square-foot frozen-food storage facility has burned for a week, polluting the air in a working-class neighborhood and challenging firefighters.

The spark: The fire likely started when the solar array’s owner, Altus Power, was running tests, building operator Lineage Logistics said. (The solar array doesn’t directly power the warehouse, but sends electricity to the city's grid.) In 2024, a smaller rooftop fire broke out at the same warehouse.

The lesson: “America’s first generation of commercial solar assets is aging,” Cesar Barbosa, CEO of solar repair company NuLife, wrote on LinkedIn. Now, he’s urging the industry to pay more attention to what happens after installation: inspection, maintenance, and lifecycle planning. 

His background: Kavulla has spent over a decade in the power industry, including his tenure as a Montana PSC commissioner. Most recently, he worked as head of policy for Texas-based residential battery provider Base Power. 

Why the change? The position opened up after John Hairston retired in February. Kavulla will be sworn in on June 29. 

What to expect: Kavulla openly supports competitive electricity markets. He’s joining the BPA at a critical moment, as the agency departs the Western Energy Imbalance Market and eyes Markets+. Critics are urging Kavulla to pause the move, saying it “could cause energy users billions in excess electricity costs.”