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Electricity Customer Alliance Submits Reply Comments on ANOPR on Ensuring the Timely and Orderly Interconnection of Large Loads

Electricity Customer Alliance

ECA submitted reply comments on the Announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking submitted to FERC by the Secretary of Energy in October. ECA’s reply comments further emphasize the need for consistent national guidelines, noting widespread concern that today’s fragmented and opaque practices slow “speed to power” and create cost-shift risks. We push back on efforts to narrow the scope of reforms, such as raising MW thresholds or asserting federal overreach, underscoring that a guidelines-based approach respects state authority while ensuring just and reasonable outcomes. We also highlight data center developers’ evidence showing that delays and inadequate processes hinder competitiveness in the global AI and manufacturing economy.

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Electricity Customer Alliance Submits Comments on DOE’s RFI on “Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the Artificial Intelligence Race”

Electricity Customer Alliance

ECA submitted comments in response to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) RFI on “Accelerating Speed to Power/Winning the Artificial Intelligence Race.” In the comments, ECA urged DOE to prioritize high-value regional and interregional projects that cut congestion, lower costs, and support economic growth; advance flexible near-term power options; improve load-forecast transparency; and use its full authorities to support cost-effective, customer-benefiting solutions.

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Electricity Customer Alliance Submits Comments on ANOPR on Ensuring the Timely and Orderly Interconnection of Large Loads

Electricity Customer Alliance

ECA submitted comments on the Announced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking submitted to FERC by the Secretary of Energy in October. ECA agrees that FERC action is urgently needed to address the rapid growth of large electricity loads—from AI data centers to onshored manufacturing—while protecting affordability and reliability for all customers. ECA emphasizes three priorities: enabling flexible, near-term “speed to power” options that allow large loads to fund their own growth; planning for efficient long-term integration of these loads into the grid to lower systemwide costs; and strengthening transparency, accountability, and customer representation in transmission planning, rate decisions, and market governance. Together, these steps will ensure the U.S. can meet economic and national-security imperatives without imposing undue costs on consumers.

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President Trump Names Laura Swett Chairman of FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

President Trump has named Laura Swett Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“I am honored to serve as Chairman of FERC and grateful for President Trump’s confidence in me to advance America’s energy priorities at such a critical moment in our Nation’s history. I look forward to working with my colleagues and FERC’s excellent staff to continue the Commission’s crucial mission of ensuring reliable and affordable energy for all consumers,” Chairman Swett said.

Chairman Swett was nominated by President Trump on June 2, 2025, and confirmed by the Senate on October 7, 2025, to serve on the Commission for a term expiring on June 30, 2030

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Electricity Customer Alliance Congratulates David LaCerte and Laura Swett on Their Senate Confirmations to Serve as FERC Commissioners

Electricity Customer Alliance

Washington, D.C. — The Electricity Customer Alliance (ECA) congratulates David LaCerte and Laura Swett on their Senate confirmations to serve as Commissioners on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“A full, five-member FERC is essential for advancing the decisions needed to meet today’s energy affordability and economic growth priorities,” said Jeff Dennis, Executive Director of the Electricity Customer Alliance. “Electricity demand is surging from Artificial Intelligence development and growth in advanced manufacturing and electrification, while electricity costs are rising for customers everywhere. ECA looks forward to working with Commissioners Swett and LaCerte, alongside the full Commission, to advance regulatory approaches that cost-effectively grow the grid and expand market opportunities to meet these new demands while ensuring that all customers have access to affordable and reliable energy.”

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Electricity Customer Alliance Congratulates David Rosner on Being Named Chairman of FERC

Electricity Customer Alliance

Washington, D.C. — The Electricity Customer Alliance (ECA) congratulates David Rosner on being named Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“ECA is looking forward to working with Chairman Rosner and the Commission to ensure the grid and markets evolve to quickly deliver needed power supplies and greater innovation while maintaining reliability and ensuring energy affordability for all customers during this time of growing electricity demand,” said Jeff Dennis, ECA Executive Director.

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Electricity Customer Alliance Congratulates David LaCerte on His Nomination to FERC

Electricity Customer Alliance

Washington, D.C. — The Electricity Customer Alliance (ECA) congratulates David LaCerte on his nomination by President Trump to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

“We look forward to working with Mr. LaCerte and the rest of the Commission to prioritize customer focused innovation and flexibility, affordability, and reliability as our energy system evolves to meet the demands of artificial intelligence, electrification, manufacturing, and industrial growth,” said Jeff Dennis, ECA Executive Director.

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Department of Energy Releases Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security

Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today released its Report on Evaluating U.S. Grid Reliability and Security. The report fulfills Section 3(b) of President Trump’s Executive Order, Strengthening The Reliability And Security Of The United States Electric Grid, by delivering a uniform methodology to identify at-risk regions and guide Federal reliability interventions. 

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Electricity Customer Alliance Congratulates Laura Swett on Her Nomination to FERC

Electricity Customer Alliance

Washington, D.C. — The Electricity Customer Alliance (ECA) congratulates Laura Swett on her nomination by President Trump to serve on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). “We look forward to working with her and the rest of the Commission to advance customer-centric solutions that support the power system expansion our nation needs to meet the demands of a growing digital economy while keeping energy affordable for all customers,” said Jeff Dennis, ECA Executive Director.

“ECA also thanks Chairman Christie for his service as Chairman,” Dennis added. “Chairman Christie has amassed a truly remarkable record of public service and will be remembered as a resolute voice for energy consumers, raising consumer cost and reliability concerns to the top of the agenda during his time leading FERC and the Virginia State Corporation Commission.”

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FERC Releases 2025 Summer Assessment

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today released staff’s 2025 Summer Assessment on the outlook for energy markets and electric reliability during the June to September time frame.

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Release of a Strategic Action Plan on State-Led Interregional Transmission Priorities

Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission

As representatives of the States of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont, we are pleased to share the attached Strategic Action Plan on Interregional Transmission prepared by the Northeast States Collaborative on Interregional Transmission.

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FERC, NERC Issue Report on System Performance During the January 2025 Arctic Weather

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and its Regional Entities said today that the country’s Bulk-Power System performed well during successive cold weather events in January 2025, without major issues in either the natural gas or electric systems.

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FERC State of the Markets Report for 2024 Released

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC staff today issued its annual State of the Markets report for 2024 to provide the industry and public with key information on market conditions and emerging issues in natural gas and electricity markets as well as significant market trends and fundamentals for the year. 

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FERC To Host Commissioner-led Technical Conference on Resource Adequacy

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC Chairman Mark Christie announced today that the Commission will host a Commissioner-led technical conference to explore the challenges of resource adequacy in regional transmission organization and independent system operator regions.  The two-day technical conference will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, and Thursday, June 5, 2025, at FERC headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

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FERC Orders Action on Co-Location Issues Related to Data Centers Running AI

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FERC today voted unanimously to launch a review of issues associated with the co-location of large loads such as AI-enabled data centers at generating facilities in PJM, including whether the PJM tariff needs to establish rules to create clarity while ensuring grid reliability and fair costs to consumers.  The Commission’s inquiry is initially focused on PJM, the nation’s largest grid operator, because of the number of proceedings arising in PJM from co-location of generators with large load customers such as data centers.  

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