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April 22, 2026
| This week’s load management news and insights for utility leaders
The reliability watchdog is concerned about a series of “widespread and unexpected” customer-initiated load reductions in 2024 and 2025 during which 1,000 MW or more dropped off the bulk power system.
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The 50-MW distributed battery deployment could check Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative’s power costs, CEO Darren Schauer told Utility Dive.
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Deploying multiple small batteries — in this case, five projects of 5 MW each — is faster and cheaper than transmission-connected projects and provides many of the benefits of a virtual power plant, the developer told Utility Dive.
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Federal data shows that U.S. electricity customers are experiencing more and longer power outages due to extreme weather. Explore how utilities are employing new strategies to make the grid more resilient in
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However, data center development plans "widen uncertainty" in the long-term outlook, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator cautioned. Utilities need more dynamic planning models to cope, Stephanie Chesnick Cutter of EY told Utility Dive.
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Opinion
Xcel Energy’s 200-MW, ratepayer-funded battery pilot is not the right model to encourage broad adoption, writes Coalition for Community Solar Access CEO Jeff Cramer.
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Two PPL utilities — Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities — are studying the project. But at about $4.9 million/MW, it doesn’t appear viable without a data center hyperscaler willing to pay for it, Jefferies analysts said.
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Other open meeting takeaways: Chairman Swett is “perplexed” on PJM backstop auction, the agency rejected a renewable developer’s $44-million waiver request, and zombie dockets die.
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