PJM enters 2026 amid several efforts to ward off a reliability gap attributed to accelerating data center load, sluggish development of new capacity and resource deactivations.

FERC and the organized power markets it oversees are facing huge challenges in trying to meet rising demand reliably and affordably.

The defining story of the coming year will be the widening chasm between electricity supply and demand, a dynamic driven by a slow-moving supply side, coupled with the explosive growth of energy-hungry data centers, says columnist Peter Kelly-Detwiler.

PacifiCorp filed a partial motion to dismiss an Oregon complaint by Amazon Data Services that alleged the utility has breached agreements to provide electric service to four data centers in the utility’s service territory.

ERCOT proposed revisions to its large load interconnection process just days after a new rule established more rigorous criteria for connecting data centers, bitcoin miners and other power-hungry facilities to the grid.

With a surge in interconnection requests from large load customers, Public Service Company of Colorado has fallen behind on processing applications, a situation that has sparked concern from state regulators.

The Michigan Public Service Commission approved a special contract that will allow DTE Energy to continue its plans to supply a hotly contested, $7 billion data center with nearly 1.4 GW.

FERC told PJM to change its rules to allow for co-located load at generators, with new transmission services and other tweaks.

PJM’s 2027/28 Base Residual Auction procured 134,479 MW in unforced capacity at the $333.44/MW-day maximum price, falling 6,623 MW short of the reliability requirement and setting a clearing price record.

ICF International has released a new paper discussing where data centers could be sited.