U.S. Grid Held During 2026 Arctic Cold, but Reliability Work Remains
A FERC-NERC review says the U.S. bulk grid avoided major disruptions during early-2026 cold, while gas supply, forecasting and coordination risks remain.
utilities
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Tampa water customers may notice a chlorine smell during three-week treatment change
Tampa is switching from monochloramine to chlorine from September 14 through October 5, 2026. The city says the water remains safe, but some customers may notice a stronger taste or smell.
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Memphis City Council’s proposed data-center moratorium faces final vote Tuesday
Memphis City Council is scheduled to take final action September 15 on Ordinance No. 5982, a proposed 12-month pause on specified approvals for new data-center and high-density-computing facilities.
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Oklahoma City schedules 16,000-acre-foot Canton Lake release for Sept. 17
Oklahoma City plans to release 16,000 acre-feet from Canton Lake beginning Sept. 17 to support Lake Hefner, which supplies about 40% of the city’s drinking water.
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Salt Lake City weighs sharp increases in utility impact fees
Salt Lake City is considering higher one-time water, sewer and stormwater impact fees for new construction, with public hearings scheduled for September 22 and October 6, 2026.
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Texas revises ERCOT review timeline for data-center projects
Texas regulators gave ERCOT more time to verify large-load projects after the Aug. 7 deadline was missed; conditional classifications are due Aug. 31.
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Montana regulators find NorthWestern Energy’s long-term power plan deficient
The Montana Public Service Commission gave NorthWestern Energy until September 18, 2026, to revise its 20-year power plan or request more time. The action does not approve a project, set rates or choose a final resource mix.
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FERC Accepts SPP Plan to Cut Transmission Congestion
FERC accepted SPP tariff changes allowing power-flow reconfigurations around grid constraints, with an October 1, 2026, implementation target.
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PJM Market Monitor Links Data Centers to $10.48/MWh in 2026 Costs
PJM’s market monitor attributed 9% of wholesale power costs through July to existing and forecast data-center demand, while warning of reliability pressures.
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California wildfire liability deal could shift costs to homeowners as lawmakers face Aug. 31 deadline
California lawmakers are weighing a proposed wildfire liability package that could speed survivor payments but raise insurance costs and change who pays after future utility-caused fires.
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Black Hills Energy customers could face a 45% electric-bill increase if regulators approve two requests
Two pending Black Hills Energy requests could add about $44.83 monthly for a typical 650-kWh customer, but South Dakota regulators have not approved either increase.
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Rhode Island Energy customers will begin seeing temporary bill credits in October
Rhode Island Energy electric customers are scheduled to receive fixed monthly credits beginning in October, while gas credits begin in December after deferred gas-cost balances are addressed.
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California regulators adopt $22 million PG&E settlement over Mosquito Fire safety violations
The CPUC adopted a shareholder-funded settlement tied to its Mosquito Fire investigation, sending $21 million to the state General Fund and up to $1 million to an independent review of PG&E’s inspection team—not directly to fire survivors.
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Southcentral Alaska utilities warn gas shortages could raise heating and power costs this winter
Enstar and regional electric utilities warn that tightening Cook Inlet gas supplies and low storage margins could raise energy costs and trigger conservation measures during extreme winter demand.
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Why Lower Wholesale Power Prices May Not Mean Cheaper Summer Electric Bills
Wholesale power prices are forecast to fall nationally in summer 2026, but higher retail rates and heavier air-conditioning use could raise household bills.
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Bowling Green adopts new restrictions for potential data centers
Bowling Green commissioners approved rules requiring proposed data centers to maintain 1,500-foot separations from schools, institutions and homes.
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Bozeman building-fee update takes effect amid $28.8M construction plan
Bozeman’s building-fee update is effective Aug. 1 as the city carries out a 14-project, $28.8 million transportation and utility construction program.
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Augusta Advances Proposed Rules for Future Data Centers
Augusta is reviewing its first comprehensive data-center ordinance, with proposed rules for zoning, noise, utilities, emergency access, stormwater and compliance.
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Fayetteville sets Aug. 10 hearing on data-center ordinance
Fayetteville City Council is set to hear a draft data-center ordinance Aug. 10 and could vote, amid debate over utility and environmental impacts.
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Corona Seeks Design Firm for Grand Quadrant Waterline Replacement
Corona is seeking an engineering consultant for a possible downtown waterline replacement covering about 15,000 linear feet in the southeast quadrant; the RSVP deadline for a mandatory pre-proposal meeting is August 5, 2026.
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FERC gives NERC until December to write grid rules for AI loads
FERC ordered NERC to propose reliability standards for AI and other computational loads by December 31, but no nationwide data-center mandate starts yet.
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Tampa Water Customers Remain Under Once-a-Week Irrigation Rules
Tampa properties remain under once-a-week watering rules through October 1, 2026, while regional water supplies remain strained by drought.