DOE Leadership Changes Highlight Shift in Domestic Energy Priorities Toward Hydrocarbons
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright has reshuffled DOE leadership, appointing Kyle Haustveit as under secretary and Alex Fitzsimmons as senior advisor and associate deputy secretary. Haustveit, a petroleum engineer who previously led the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, will oversee the department’s portfolio of oil, coal, natural gas and geothermal projects, including the National Energy Technology Laboratory. The changes underscore the Trump administration’s renewed emphasis on fossil‑fuel production, nuclear power, and critical minerals as AI‑driven electricity demand strains the grid. Wright’s recent tour of the Golden Pass LNG facility highlights the push to expand U.S. LNG exports.
Citizens Electric Corporation's Strategic Transformation for a Resilient Future
Citizens Electric Corporation (CEC), Missouri’s largest electric cooperative, is rolling out a six‑point strategic plan to modernize its grid and secure long‑term reliability. The centerpiece is the Limestone Ridge transmission project, which upgrades aging lines and expands capacity. CEC’s roadmap...
Energy Affordability Through Proactive Customer Engagement
Utilities are turning smart‑meter data into a proactive tool to identify household‑specific savings and deliver tailored outreach. By educating customers on rates and offering personalized recommendations, enrollment in affordability programs and peak‑shaving shifts have risen. The approach lets utilities demonstrate...
QuickChat | Why Fiber Is Key to Modern IEC 61850 Substations
Utilities are replacing copper with fiber to meet IEC 61850 digital substation standards. Fiber’s structural advantages improve protection performance, cut complexity, and boost cybersecurity. The upgrade delivers real‑time system visibility, scalability, and interoperability for emerging grid applications. AFL’s Lucas Mays outlines...
Global EV Market Hits 1.60 Million Units in April 2026 Amid Regional Divergence
Global electric‑vehicle sales reached 1.60 million units in April 2026, lifting the first‑four‑month total to 5.6 million – a 6% year‑on‑year rise but a 9% drop from March. Europe emerged as the growth engine, topping 400,000 units in April and posting a 26%...
Utilities, Regulators Grapple With Data Center Growth and Grid Reliability at IEEE PES T&D
At the 2026 IEEE PES T&D conference, utility leaders highlighted a sharp rise in electricity demand driven by data‑center expansion and electrification, with ComEd reporting a 40 GW potential data‑center pipeline—nearly twice its 2011 peak. Panelists warned that traditional forecasting is...
FirstEnergy’s Three-Year Rate Plan in Ohio Seeks to Support Upgrades, Reliability Efforts
FirstEnergy’s Ohio electric utilities will file a three‑year rate plan (TYRP) with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio by May 22, following the enactment of House Bill 15. The forward‑looking plan earmarks roughly $800 million annually for system upgrades and $83 million for expanded...
2026 IEEE PES T&D: Powering Reliability and Engineering Resilience on the Show Floor
The 2026 IEEE Power & Energy Society Transmission & Distribution Conference convened over 15,000 power‑engineering professionals at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Participants hailed from 50 countries, underscoring the event’s global reach. The three‑day expo highlighted the theme “Powering Reliability, Engineering Resilience,”...
Warm Winter Leads Portland General Execs to Push More on Cost Savings
Portland General Electric (PGE) trimmed its 2026 weather‑adjusted load‑growth outlook to 1.5‑2.5%, down from last year’s 3.8%, after a milder Oregon winter reduced commercial and residential demand. The utility accelerated a cost‑saving program that already cut $25 million in spending and...
PJM Board Appoints David E. Mills as President and CEO
PJM Interconnection’s Board of Managers appointed David E. Mills as president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2026, making him the fifth permanent CEO. Mills, who served as interim CEO and board chair since January, brings extensive experience from Puget Sound...
T&D World Live Podcast: The Need for Speed
The T&D World Live Podcast highlighted how exploding data‑center growth, driven by AI and cloud workloads, is pressuring U.S. electric utilities to expand generation and transmission capacity. Deloitte experts forecast a dramatic rise in data‑center electricity demand over the next...
Anterix, Benton PUD Agree To Deploy Private Wireless To Pacific Northwest Utility District
Anterix has signed an agreement with Utility District No. 1 of Benton County to provide a 10 MHz slice of 900 MHz private LTE spectrum, enabling the first utility‑owned private wireless broadband network in the Pacific Northwest. The network will cover Benton PUD’s...
How DTE Energy Is Using AI for High-Bill Calls and Building Customer Trust
DTE Energy has deployed BillWise, an AI‑driven platform that delivers real‑time alerts linking weather forecasts to expected usage spikes, helping customers anticipate bill changes before they arrive. The system also equips call‑center agents with a shared dashboard that mirrors customer...
Invisible Infrastructure: Inside a Dallas Community-Driven GIS Substation
Denton Municipal Electric completed the Hickory GIS substation, doubling capacity while cloaking the facility in a 22‑foot screen wall that matches historic downtown. The project used BIM to coordinate underground utilities and addressed challenging soil and water conditions. Community workshops...
Tackling Grid Challenges with AECC: The TS Next-Generation Advanced Conductor
TS Conductor unveiled its next‑generation Aluminum Encapsulated Carbon Core (AECC) conductor, a composite solution that lets utilities replace aging lines without modifying existing structures. The AECC design promises five core grid attributes—reliability, resiliency, affordability, rapid deployment, and safety—addressing the shortcomings...