ISO New England staff shared expertise at numerous industry events throughout October, covering topics ranging from artificial intelligence to long-duration energy storage. Chris Geissler, director of Economic Analysis and Market Development, addressed the Capacity Auction Reforms project at the Northeast Energy and Commerce Association Fuels Conference in Boston on October 1st. The reforms aim to

Google and Voltus Expand Partnership for 1-Gigawatt Virtual Power Plant Google and Voltus have finalized an agreement to develop a 1-gigawatt (GW) virtual power plant across the PJM electricity grid in the United States, representing a tenfold expansion of a previous 100-megawatt (MW) commitment. This initiative aims to alleviate stress on the power network during

Nation Faces Challenges in Meeting Electricity Demand with Traditional Methods The United States’ electricity grid is encountering difficulties in meeting rising demand while maintaining reliability and affordability. Flexible distributed energy resources (DERs), including batteries, smart thermostats, and heat pumps, are emerging as a potential solution. By adjusting electricity supply and demand based on grid needs,

PJM Interconnection Submits Revised Plan to Secure Power Generation October 30, 2026 – The PJM Interconnection has filed an amended proposal with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to launch a Reliability Backstop Procurement beginning March 1, 2027. The revised submission addresses modifications to cost allocation for Reliability Backstop charges, credit requirements for Load Serving Entities

Midcontinent Independent System Operator Announces Winter Preparedness Assessment The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has completed its assessment of winter readiness for the 2026-2027 season, reporting adequate generating capacity to meet projected electricity needs across its service territory. MISO’s annual Planning Resource Auction secured approximately 134.7 gigawatts (GW) of winter capacity offers, exceeding the estimated

PJM Submits Revised Plan to Address Capacity Shortfall PJM has formally presented an amended proposal to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to initiate a Reliability Backstop Procurement, slated to begin on March 1, 2027. The revised document incorporates adjustments to the methodology for allocating costs associated with the procurement, the financial requirements for Load-Serving

Appomattox County, Va. — A billion-dollar transmission line project, designated Valley Link, is proposed to address rising electricity demand, but is causing worry among residents who fear losing their land. The project could potentially impact generations of agricultural heritage for some landowners. Valley Link is designed to facilitate the movement of electricity to areas experiencing

From Bangor to Boston to Bow, New Englanders are discussing data centers, a topic that might be surprising given the region’s lack of the large-scale facilities found elsewhere in the country. Several factors contribute to this, and the region is now considering how to prepare for the potential arrival of these resource-intensive facilities. At its

PSC questions local impacts of grid expansion through W.Va. CHARLESTON – Members of the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) expressed concerns Tuesday regarding the necessity of a proposed 500 kilovolt electric transmission line. PSC Chairwoman Charlotte Lane and Commissioner Bill Rainey questioned Sami Abdulsalam, senior director of transmission planning at PJM Interconnection, a 13-state

**Google, Voltus Expand Virtual Power Plant Collaboration to 1 Gigawatt in PJM Grid** Virtual power plants utilize control systems and software to redistribute power generation from numerous distributed energy resources, addressing grid capacity needs during peak demand or supply shortages. Voltus, a distributed energy aggregator, and Google, a digital infrastructure provider, are significantly expanding their

Google and Voltus have finalized an expanded agreement to develop a virtual power plant (VPP) within the PJM grid region. The broadened “Bring Your Own Capacity” program is designed to create a 1 gigawatt VPP asset, aiming to provide capacity and bill savings for customers throughout the PJM area. The PJM grid region encompasses 13

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Approves PJM’s Large Load Definition, Rejects Resource Adequacy Proposal The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced its decision regarding PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.’s proposals on October 9, 2026. FERC approved PJM’s definition of “Large Load” and the accompanying registry, but rejected the proposed Interim Resource Adequacy Service (IRAS) and Bring Your Own

**Record Heat Drives Electricity Demand to New Highs Across Key U.S. Regions** The summer of 2026 saw unprecedented heat and electricity demand across the United States, pushing several major regional transmission organizations to new peak load records, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Hourly Electric Grid Monitor. PJM, ERCOT, and SPP all

The Trump administration has declared an emergency order to prevent potential power outages impacting 13 states, with unusually high October temperatures straining the electrical grid for over 60 million Americans. The Department of Energy authorized PJM Interconnection, a regional grid operator, to utilize additional power generation resources. This action addresses rising electricity demand coinciding with

Texas Data Center Growth Under Scrutiny as Governor Implements Freeze Texas, once a prime destination for data center investment, is now facing increased scrutiny and restrictions on expansion, as evidenced by Governor Greg Abbott’s recent executive actions. A year ago, the state’s pro-business environment, including the absence of state and local income taxes and a

PJM Interconnection Demand Response Programs to Operate Around the Clock Starting June 1, 2027, demand response programs within the PJM Interconnection will require participation during all hours of the day, extending commitments to include nighttime and pre-dawn periods. Demand response programs compensate large electricity consumers for reducing consumption when requested by the grid operator. The

A recent disruption to the national power grid is prompting renewed discussion about nuclear energy in New Jersey. The incident, which affected multiple states, exposed weaknesses in the current energy infrastructure and intensified calls for a more dependable and diverse power supply. The grid emergency occurred on October 16, 2026, stemming from a combination of

Federal regulators have approved a registry to track large electricity users on the PJM grid while rejecting a plan to curtail new power consumption during emergencies. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s October 9 order authorizes PJM Interconnection to collect information about facilities using at least 50 megawatts (MW) at a single location. The commission denied

Changes to Chicago’s power grid are taking effect, but key aspects of a plan to manage large electricity users have been rejected by federal regulators. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved a portion of PJM’s strategy, effective October 12. PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator for Chicago and a significant portion of the Midwest and

Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) has selected a consortium of Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI), GridLiance Heartland, and Dairyland Power Cooperative to build, operate, and maintain a significant transmission project in Iowa. ATXI, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, and GridLiance, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Transmission, will jointly lead the development effort and share

Google and Voltus Announce Expanded Virtual Power Plant Partnership Google has partnered with Voltus, a provider of distributed energy resource management solutions, to create a 1 gigawatt virtual power plant aimed at addressing the rising electricity demands of data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence infrastructure. The expansion of data centers is placing significant strain

Joint State Government Commission Releases Update on PJM Interconnection Report The Joint State Government Commission has released an updated report examining the financial implications, advantages, and potential risks associated with Pennsylvania’s participation in the PJM Interconnection. The report's creation was authorized by House Resolution 361, which received unanimous support from the House of Representatives on

Pacific Gas & Electric anticipates additional planned power shutoffs this week, starting Wednesday, as the California grid remains susceptible to fire hazards following a recent heat wave and dry winds. The potential disruptions may affect over two dozen counties, primarily in northern and central California, and could continue through Saturday. The utility is monitoring the