Power

FERC issued show-cause orders under Section 206 of the Federal Power Act directing PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE and NYISO plus their transmission owners to justify or revise tariffs governing data-center and large-load interconnections within 60 days. The orders target five reform categories to accelerate reliable integration while protecting ratepayers and grid reliability. This follows prior actions on co-located loads in PJM and SPP’s high-impact processes. Read →

The Commission directed the six RTOs/ISOs to address tariff gaps for data centers and other large users, requiring justification or proposed changes in 60 days. SPP’s existing expedited processes are noted positively; PJM faces separate co-location rules. The moves respond to rapid load growth from AI and manufacturing while emphasizing just-and-reasonable rates. Read →

Day-ahead prices for Oct 2 delivery averaged as low as 31.8 EUR/MWh in NO4 and as high as 199.8 EUR/MWh in DK1, with other zones including SE3 at 80 EUR/MWh and FI at 49 EUR/MWh. The 168 EUR/MWh spread reflects regional supply-demand differences post single European day-ahead coupling auction. Prices are from the ENTSO-E Transparency Platform. Read →

PJM Interconnection suspended its planned one-time reliability backstop procurement auction hours after FERC partially approved but suspended the filing until Feb. 28 and ordered revisions on cost allocation, collateral, and exit rules. The auction aimed to secure up to 6.8 GW of new capacity to address a shortfall in the 2028/29 delivery year driven by data-center load growth. The delay pushes back procurement of new generation needed to meet surging AI-driven demand in the 13-state PJM region. Read →

FERC directed PJM to postpone and overhaul its backstop procurement to ensure large loads like data centers bear more of the costs rather than spreading them across all customers. The regulator accepted core elements but suspended the process for five months while opening further proceedings, citing concerns over a flawed proposal with billion-dollar consumer implications. PJM had planned bidding from Sept. 30 to Oct. 21 to close the 6.8 GW capacity gap from its latest auction. Read →

French day-ahead power on EPEX SPOT averaged €202/MWh on Oct. 1, up 37.8% from €147/MWh the prior day, with the evening peak reaching €301/MWh. No negative prices occurred, and the minimum cleared at €162/MWh. France ranked among the higher-priced markets in the region, reflecting tight conditions ahead of winter. Read →

US energy regulators accepted PJM Interconnection’s filing to procure new capacity for a 6.8 GW shortfall driven by data-center demand but suspended it until Feb. 28, ordering a paper hearing on cost allocation, collateral, and exit-rule issues. The move delays a one-time auction meant to accelerate supply for AI-driven load growth in the nation’s largest grid. PJM had proposed the backstop procurement to address shortfalls after recent capacity auctions cleared at price caps while failing reliability targets. Read →

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s Monday pause on data-center interconnections and permits, triggered by an audit of nearly 50 GW of projects in the ERCOT queue, threatens delays for about 20% of the US data-center pipeline per BloombergNEF analysis. The move follows 474 GW of total interconnection requests (90% data centers) and could cause up to $8 billion in revenue losses by Q1 2027 if prolonged. ERCOT delayed its Batch Zero transmission planning study in response, forcing developers to reassess timelines. Read →

French EPEX SPOT day-ahead prices averaged 204 €/MWh on Monday with a low of 150 €/MWh at 13:00 and peak of 342 €/MWh at 19:00; Tuesday’s average is forecast at 167 €/MWh. No negative-price hours occurred Monday or are expected Tuesday. Prices reflect typical late-September patterns without scarcity signals across the EPEX footprint. Read →

Britain’s National Energy System Operator warned of a possible 1.4 GW margin shortfall from 4pm Monday BST before overnight wind relief. The notice urges extra generation availability but stresses no customer supply risk or need for action. It highlights near-term tightness in the UK power system ahead of expected wind increases. Read →

Germany is on track for its first annual drop in negative power price hours in four years due to stronger demand and renewable support changes. Negative prices, driven by renewable oversupply, have risen sharply elsewhere in Europe. The shift signals improving balance in the German market amid broader EU renewable growth. Read →

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality halted air, water and other permits for data center infrastructure following the governor's directive. The freeze applies while ERCOT and water authorities review projects; compliance updates are due Oct. 19. It adds regulatory hurdles beyond grid interconnection for developers. Read →

Vistra CEO Jim Burke stated that PJM and ERCOT have sufficient excess capacity outside super-peak hours to handle near-term data-center growth if loads are flexible or use on-site generation. Data-center interest has more than doubled year-over-year, supporting higher utilization of the company's gas plants. Read →

PJM filed a proposal at FERC for a one-time reliability backstop auction Sept. 30, Oct. 21 to procure capacity and address a 6.8 GW shortfall from its prior base auction. The gap stems primarily from surging data-center load forecasts, with PJM projecting up to 70 GW of additional large-load demand by 2038. The plan includes a bilateral matchmaking process between data centers and suppliers, with costs capped at $555/MW-day and allocated across zones; bilateral deals could reduce the auction target. Read →

ERCOT plans to finish Gov. Greg Abbott’s comprehensive verification and audit of data-center and large-load interconnection requests by Dec. 10. The review covers 300 projects in Batch Zero (75 MW+), plus community-impact assessments for 25 MW+ facilities, examining self-generation, water use, ownership, and grid reliance. The audit pauses advancement of the Batch Zero transmission study and new interconnections amid a 474 GW queue (90% data centers), more than five times ERCOT’s record peak demand. Read →

MISO filed a FERC proposal imposing interconnection reliability requirements on large loads (>50 MW) and computational loads (≥25 MW IT demand). Requirements cover visibility (data, modeling, real-time telemetry, forecasts), ramp-rate limits on demand changes, and ride-through performance during disturbances to prevent sudden disconnections. The framework targets data centers and similar facilities to improve planning, operations, and system stability amid rapid load growth. Read →

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing new air and water permits for data centers until ERCOT completes its audit of large-load proposals by Dec. 10. The move follows Abbott’s earlier order pausing new interconnections amid a 474 GW queue (90% data centers) exceeding five times ERCOT’s record peak demand; ERCOT delayed its Batch Zero study in response. Read →

EIA forecasts sharp solar generation growth in ERCOT (up 18 TWh in 2026, another 20 TWh in 2027) and MISO (13 TWh then 11 TWh) as data centers and manufacturing push load higher. ERCOT utility-scale solar is set to surpass coal annually for the first time in 2026 at 78 TWh; MISO sees data centers as its largest new load source, potentially reaching 20 GW by 2030. Read →

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing permits for data centers until the Electric Reliability Council of Texas completes its audit of grid reliability, power use, tax incentives and water consumption. ERCOT faces more than 470 GW of data-center and large-load interconnection requests, over five times the state's peak demand, with 90% from data centers. The move tightens scrutiny on new load in the ERCOT market, where developers must now prove projects protect the grid and water resources before advancing. Read →

Gov. Greg Abbott ordered environmental regulators to halt approvals for data-center projects while ERCOT audits interconnection requests and water use. The directive extends beyond grid connections to air and water permits and signals that projects must cover infrastructure costs and meet audit requirements. It affects the massive queue of proposed data centers seeking to connect to Texas power. Read →

Gov. Abbott instructed TCEQ to halt permits sought by data centers until ERCOT finishes its audit of grid and water impacts. The order requires data centers to pay their own way, protect resources and complete audits before approvals proceed. It follows earlier directives for PUCT, ERCOT and the Texas Water Development Board reviews of the interconnection queue. Read →

Unseasonably high temperatures across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic drove PJM to issue alerts and activate demand response programs, ordering major non-residential customers to cut usage. With nearly 37 GW of generation offline for maintenance and demand forecast above 132 GW, spot prices on PJM's Western hub exceeded $4,300 per megawatt-hour. The strain coincides with autumn maintenance outages and follows a summer of record loads from data centers and cooling demand. Read →

PJM Interconnection called on large energy consumers across 13 states to curb consumption on Thursday amid high temperatures and about 36,000 MW of generation outages. The grid operator activated its demand response program, which pays participants to reduce use during peaks, and may curtail exports. The U.S. Department of Energy granted a temporary emergency order waiving environmental restrictions on power plants and allowing data centers to switch to backup generators. Read →

PJM Interconnection filed a proposal at FERC on Friday for a one-time reliability backstop auction running Sept. 30 to Oct. 21 to procure capacity and address a 6.8 GW shortfall from its prior base auction. The shortfall stems primarily from surging data-center and large-load demand forecasts outpacing new supply additions. PJM also proposes facilitating bilateral deals between data centers and generators, with costs allocated pro rata to zones and a proposed $555/MW-day price cap. Read →

The US House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Ratepayer Protection Act 417-3, directing state utility regulators to ensure data centers bear the full costs of new power generation, transmission, and grid upgrades needed to serve them. The measure responds to voter concerns over rising electricity bills linked to AI-driven data-center demand, including in PJM where such load has driven billions in added capacity costs. The bill now moves to the Senate. Read →

PJM proposed new ride-through rules requiring large computational loads (data centers ≥50 MW at ≥100 kV) to stay connected during voltage/frequency disturbances instead of switching to backup generation. The rules respond to a June FERC order and a July event where nearly 4,000 MW of Northern Virginia data center load disconnected during a transmission fault. New facilities must demonstrate compliance starting November; the changes aim to reduce reliability risks from unpredictable large-load behavior. Read →

FERC issued show-cause orders under Section 206 to PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE, and NYISO directing them within 60 days to justify current tariffs or propose reforms for data centers and other large loads. The orders target cost allocation, co-location rules, cost-recovery agreements, and expedited processes to speed reliable interconnections while protecting ratepayers. SPP’s existing High Impact Large Load framework is noted as a model; separate PJM co-location proceedings advance firm/non-firm contract demand transmission services. Read →

ERCOT conditionally classified Soluna’s 100 MW Project Dorothy wind-powered data-center campus as base load under its Batch Zero large-load interconnection process. The classification follows a similar approval for the company’s 166 MW Project Kati and preserves interconnection capacity while exempting the project from further reliability evaluation in the study. An additional 50 MW request at the site is already under separate study; the status is conditional on ERCOT’s ongoing verification process. Read →

ERCOT real-time settlement point prices across hubs and load zones averaged around $30/MWh in the early overnight hours of September 13, 2026, with minor fluctuations between roughly $27/MWh and $33/MWh. No scarcity alerts or price spikes were reported, reflecting normal grid conditions with adequate reserves. This provides a baseline for weekend power pricing in Texas amid ongoing large-load interconnection reviews. Read →

EPEX SPOT day-ahead prices for France on September 13, 2026, reached negative territory around midday, with a low of -0.01 €/MWh at 12:00 and several hours near zero before rising to a 234 €/MWh peak at 20:00. The average settled near 130 €/MWh, down slightly from the prior day. Abundant renewable output relative to lower weekend demand drove the midday negatives, a recurring feature in European spot markets. Read →

MISO recorded a peak demand of 92,917 MW on September 13, 2026, at 5:15 PM ET with a minimum reserve margin of 4.1 GW and a maximum marginal cost of $903.77/MWh. The day was graded as an 'ALERT' status before closing normal. This highlights tightening conditions in the Midwest ISO during the period, though no system-wide scarcity pricing or conservation alerts were detailed in the update. Read →

PJM filed a proposal at FERC for a one-time reliability backstop auction from Sept. 30 to Oct. 21 to procure new capacity and close a 6.8 GW shortfall left by its last base residual auction. Surging data center load forecasts and lagging new supply caused the gap; the plan also enables bilateral deals between data centers and generators, with costs allocated across zones and a proposed $555/MW-day price cap. Read →

German day-ahead power prices on EPEX SPOT rose to the highest level since June, averaging €191.82/MWh, with the 7 p.m. hour peaking at €460.86/MWh. Forecast wind output dropping to 3.5 GW at peak hours forced greater reliance on costlier fossil fuels, tightening the market on EPEX. Read →

PJM submitted a two-part FERC plan on July 31 and August 7 for a one-time Reliability Backstop Procurement auction from September 30 to October 21 targeting 6 GW to close the 2028/2029 capacity shortfall. The mechanism lets PJM procure new capacity (including BESS with siting advantages) on behalf of new large loads, with costs passed to utilities and ultimately data centers via state tariffs rather than spread to other ratepayers; large loads without their own supply will face priority curtailment in emergencies. This follows repeated capacity auctions clearing at the $325/MW-day cap while falling short of reliability targets due to data-center load growth. Read →

Intraday power prices across Western European markets rose Friday as Storm Goretti caused outages and generation issues. EPEX Spot data showed Germany baseload averaging €90.44/MWh and France €87.35/MWh, up from prior-day closes, with UK day-ahead rising 3.5 pounds to £87.50/MWh amid lower-than-forecast wind output and a French nuclear capacity dip. Read →

ERCOT's day-ahead market for Sep 7 shows evening prices rising sharply to $85.22/MWh in the Houston zone and similar levels across hubs, with non-spin reserves also elevated in peak hours. This reflects tightening conditions from heat-driven demand on a grid already managing record load forecasts and a paused large-load interconnection process. The moves highlight immediate scarcity pricing risks tied to data-center and other large-load growth in Texas. Read →

Settlement point prices for Sep 7 delivery show average levels around $40-50/MWh early in the day rising to $85/MWh in the evening across major hubs including Houston and North. Real-time data from prior days also indicated elevated conditions. These price signals underscore ERCOT's energy-only market responding to peak demand pressures from air conditioning and growing computational loads. Read →

ERCOT control room logged a sudden 654 MW generation loss on Sep 5 at 02:11, with frequency dropping to 59.959 Hz while load sat at 60,125 MW. Multiple prior days showed no comparable events. The incident adds operational stress to a system already navigating high demand periods and the state-mandated audit of hundreds of GW in data-center interconnection requests. Read →