Large loads
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
ERCOT Says It Has Paused the Energization of New Large Load Data Centers and Crypto Mining Facilities Until Its Verification and Audit and Community Impact Review Are Complete
In an update for its board meeting of September 14 and 15, 2026, ERCOT says it has begun a verification and audit of the eligibility of all large loads provisionally included in its Batch Zero study, and that it is still determining the impact on the study's timeline.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
FERC Accepts PJM's Large Load Definition and Registry, and Rejects Its Other Proposed Tariff Revisions
FERC accepted PJM's definition of a Large Load and its Large Load Registry, effective October 12, 2026, and rejected PJM's remaining proposed tariff revisions, among them the Interim Resource Adequacy Service and the rules for Bring Your Own New Capacity.
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Grid interconnection Grid constraints
PJM Says the Reprieve of the Milder Seasons Used for Maintenance Is Not What It Used to Be
In an article of October 15, 2026, PJM says the "once-dependable reprieve" of the milder seasons used for maintenance "is not what it used to be," in part because most of the new, rapidly growing demand is from data centers and other energy-intensive Large Load customers, whose consumption "does not fluctuate significantly with the weather."
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Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Says Phasor Measurements Can Understate Higher-Frequency Oscillations from AI Training Data Centers
The laboratory's report says artificial intelligence training data centers "with periodic load profiles can induce sustained grid oscillations across a wide frequency range," and that "the filtering inherent in the phasor estimation process can significantly attenuate oscillation magnitudes."
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Financing and contracts Power contracts
TeraWulf Says an Amended Electric Service Agreement Increases the Contracted Power at Its Muskie Data Campus
TeraWulf's release of October 5, 2026 says an amended and restated electric service agreement with a utility increases the contracted power capacity at its Muskie Data Campus in eastern Kentucky, and advances the planned delivery of the campus's second phase from 2030 to 2029, "subject to Kentucky Public Service Commission approval" and the utility's construction schedule.
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Operational Data and Communications: The Final Draft of NERC's Proposed Standard for Computational Load Sites
NERC's final draft of CLO-002-1, dated October 2026, would require each Computational Load Operator to "comply with each Operating Instruction issued by its Transmission Operator(s), Balancing Authority, or Reliability Coordinator," unless the action cannot be physically implemented or would violate safety, equipment, regulatory or statutory requirements. Its timetable anticipates board adoption in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Until Network Upgrades Are Complete: The California ISO's Proposed Interim Service for Large Loads
The California ISO's draft final proposal of September 24, 2026 sets out a Flexible Interim Load Interconnection service, under which a large load would "interconnect flexibly and receive service up to a certain level based on grid conditions and constraints until network upgrades are complete." The ISO says it will seek its board's approval on October 28, 2026.
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What the Panel May Ask: Large Loads at FERC's Reliability Technical Conference of October 21, 2026
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's notice of September 9, 2026 sets out the agenda of its Reliability Technical Conference on October 21. The title of its first panel includes "Operational Challenges of Integrating Large Loads in Evolving System Dynamics."
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Connected for More Than They Use: Data Centers in AEMO's 2026 Electricity Statement of Opportunities
The Australian Energy Market Operator's 2026 Electricity Statement of Opportunities says that, to date, data centers in the National Electricity Market "have been operating with a relatively flat load typically well below the maximum connection capacity." It also counts the projects proposed and canceled, and forecasts their consumption.
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Backup Generation as a Last Resort: The Energy Department's Order No. 202-26-50 to PJM
The U.S. Department of Energy's Order No. 202-26-50 determines that a statutory emergency exists in the PJM region. It authorizes PJM to direct backup generation resources to operate as a last resort before declaring an EEA 3, or during one, and it says such a resource is not a capacity resource.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Money Down Before the Study: The Texas Commission's Large Load Interconnection Standards
Texas now requires a large load customer to execute an intermediate agreement, provide certain disclosures and post financial security before it can be included in an ERCOT interconnection study. The commission's rule also sets out when that security is returned, and when it is forfeited.
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Loads That Leave the Grid: NERC's Reliability Insights on Large Computational Loads and Voltage Sensitivity
NERC's Reliability Insights of September 2026 describes large computational loads, data centers among them, that remove themselves from the grid when the voltage dips, in what it calls a familiar pattern. It reports changes by data centers that may have reduced the load lost in one event, and a load reduction in Virginia in July 2026 whose specifics are still being analyzed.
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Rules and permits Rules and tariffs
Primarily to Serve a Large Load Customer: Indiana's Commission Approves a Utility's Storage and Solar Project
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved on October 7, 2026 a utility's project of two stand-alone battery systems and a hybrid solar plus storage resource, proposed "primarily to provide the requisite incremental energy and capacity" for a customer's planned data center site.
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"Fault Cleared Properly": PJM Reviews Its Load Transfer Events
PJM's operational review of October 6 lists three dates on which load transferred to backup generation. The slide for each describes a fault on a transmission line and carries the same line: fault cleared properly.
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Rules and permits Rules and tariffs
Who Would Be Curtailed First: The Pennsylvania Commission's Proposal for Certain Large New Loads
On October 1, 2026, Pennsylvania's utility commission proposed that certain large new loads that have not secured sufficient new electric capacity be subject to curtailment before other customers when supply is tight. A formal comment period begins once the Tentative Order is published, and the commission anticipates considering a final order in January 2027.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
New Capacity, or Reduce When Called: PJM Answers the Protests
On September 23, PJM answered the comments and protests on its proposal for new large loads. In the answer's words, such a load, or the entity serving it, must arrange for new capacity. Absent that, it must reduce its energy demands when called upon during system emergencies.
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Rapid Fluctuations in Active Power Consumption: Large Loads in ERCOT's Board Update of September 2026
ERCOT told its board in September 2026 that large loads, "particularly those associated with data center AI training processes, are capable of producing rapid fluctuations in active power consumption," and that its draft NOGRR "will recommend" a limit on that variation.
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"They Should Not Disconnect From the Grid": PJM's Account of the July 22 Load Transfer
On July 22, 2026, data centers in Virginia disconnected from the grid and switched to backup generation after a line fault. PJM's account of August 11 gives the sequence in two waves and what operators did, and reports that the first phase of new reliability standards will not address ride-through.
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Rules and permits Rules and tariffs
A Deadline for NERC's Own Plan: FERC's Order on Computational Loads
On July 16, 2026, the federal energy regulator directed NERC to file new or modified reliability standards for computational loads by December 31, 2026, the date NERC had already said it intended to meet. The order says NERC must address the concerns with greater certainty than voluntary timelines provide.
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Grid interconnection Grid constraints
Short of the Reliability Requirement: PJM's 2028/2029 Capacity Auction
PJM's capacity auction for the 2028/2029 Delivery Year cleared at the price cap, and the total capacity cleared is short of the reliability requirement. PJM's release says the shortfall was not unexpected.
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How Much of Ireland's Metered Electricity Goes to Data Centers: The Statistics Office's Release for 2025
Ireland's Central Statistics Office counts the electricity that passed through data centers' meters, year by year from 2015 to 2025. Its notes say there is no agreed definition of a data center, and that the data for all years are subject to revision.
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Rent From Delivery: TeraWulf's Form 8-K on a Lease at Its Kentucky Campus
TeraWulf's Form 8-K of July 6, 2026 describes a lease its subsidiary entered into as landlord at a data center campus in Kentucky. Rent commences upon the delivery of the leased premises, which is expected in phases, and the tenant's payments are expected to be supported by an investment-grade credit.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Studied Together: ERCOT's New Batch Process for Connecting Large Electricity Users
An explainer by the grid operator ERCOT, dated June 18, 2026, describes how it will study connection requests from large electricity users together, in batches, and two optional pathways for users that bring their own generation or let ERCOT reduce their power consumption.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Not Intended to Be Recommendations or a Roadmap: Berkeley Lab's Report on Speed to Power for Large Loads
In June 2026, a report from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory identified 41 potential solutions for accelerating the connection of data centers and other large loads to the grid. It says they are not recommendations, that they range from relatively modest near-term changes to structural ones that would require a longer runway, and it leaves permitting reforms and faster construction timelines out of its scope.
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The Same Hyperscaler Again: Applied Digital's Release on Leases at Polaris Forge 3
Applied Digital's release of May 20, 2026 announces 15-year take-or-pay leases at its fourth campus with a hyperscaler that had leased from it before. It gives the campus's critical IT load beside the utility power behind it, and the leases' base-term revenue beside their value if all renewal options are exercised.
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Prior to Receiving a Request: NERC's Level 3 Alert on Computational Loads
On May 4, 2026, NERC sent the grid's planners, owners and operators a Level 3 alert on computational loads such as AI training, with seven essential actions and questions to answer by August 3. The alert says it "does not create a mandatory obligation to take the Essential Actions."
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
A Place in Line and a Date to Connect: Dominion Energy's Report on Its Large-Load Customers
In a report dated May 2026, Dominion Energy says it keeps a queue for data centers and assigns energization dates, generally first in, first out. It also sets out what a data center signs and pays on the way to its meter, and the terms of a new rate class for the largest users.
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Rules and permits Rules and tariffs
A Longer Minimum Term and a Lower Threshold: The Wisconsin Commission's Preliminary Decision on a Very Large Customer Tariff
On April 24, 2026, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin said it had made major modifications to one utility's tariff for very large customers. Its release is an overview of preliminary decisions, and the final order, it says, is the official action.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Unless Approved by the Commission: The Texas Rule on Large Loads Co-Located With Existing Generation
A Texas rule filed on March 26, 2026 says an existing power plant registered with ERCOT may not net its output against a large load beside it unless the Public Utility Commission of Texas approves. ERCOT studies each arrangement, and the commission then approves it "with or without conditions," or denies it.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Without Compromising Speed to Power: The California ISO's Issue Paper on Large Loads
In an issue paper of January 30, 2026, the California ISO describes its current role in integrating large loads, such as data centers, on its grid, and names issues for future stakeholder talks. It says it is considering a policy initiative "to ensure maintenance of a reliable system without compromising economic development or speed to power."
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Bring Your Own New Generation, or Connect and Manage: PJM's Board Letter on Large Load Additions
On January 16, 2026, PJM's Board of Managers wrote to stakeholders with its decision on large load additions. The letter encourages what it calls voluntary Bring Your Own New Generation. Where a load serving entity identifies a shortfall of new generation against its forecasted load additions, it directs the development of a framework under which that demand would be subject to curtailment before pre-emergency demand response. It also directs staff to develop a proposal for a backstop capacity procurement.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Identified For and Limited to Serving a Large Load: FERC Accepts SPP's Processes for High Impact Large Loads
On January 14, 2026, the federal regulator accepted, subject to condition, the Southwest Power Pool's new tariff processes for High Impact Large Loads and for generation that supports them. The order describes SPP's proposed generation process as significantly faster than its standard one, and says its requests will not be considered higher queued than those already waiting.
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Typically Without UPS or Backup Generators: NERC's Review of Crypto-Mining Load Loss in ERCOT
In January 2026 NERC reviewed 26 events, identified by ERCOT, in which crypto-mining facilities in Texas lost load in response to normally cleared transmission faults. Such facilities, it says, typically have no UPS systems or backup generators, unlike AI data centers, and some are transitioning toward AI or cloud workloads.
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Grid interconnection Connecting large loads
Generation and/or Storage Capacity: Ireland's Regulator on a New Connection Policy for Data Centers
On December 12, 2025, Ireland's Commission for Regulation of Utilities published its decision on a new electricity connection policy for data centers. Its release says new data centers will continue to be required to provide generation and/or storage capacity to match their maximum import demand, and sets a minimum share of their annual demand to be met with additional renewable electricity projects.
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Rules and permits Rules and tariffs
Protections for Existing Customers: The Michigan Commission's Issue Brief on Data Centers and Other Large Loads
An issue brief of the Michigan Public Service Commission, dated November 6, 2025, says an order on one utility's tariff establishes a minimum contract length, a minimum bill and an exit fee for data centers and other new very large load customers, and requires substantial collateral. The brief says it is not a substitute for the commission's orders.
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Financing and contracts Power contracts
Regardless of Actual Usage: The Kansas Commission's Large Load Rate Plan
On November 6, 2025, the Kansas Corporation Commission said it had approved a unanimous settlement agreement creating a Large Load Power Service rate plan. Its release says customers on the plan will pay a minimum monthly bill regardless of actual usage, provide collateral, and pay an exit fee if the contract is terminated early.
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Behind the meter Building and running the plant
Not Approval of the Service Agreement: The Louisiana Commission's Order on Generation and Transmission for a Single Customer
An order of the Louisiana Public Service Commission, decided on August 20, 2025, approves a settlement on a utility's application to build generation and transmission to serve new load from a data center. The settlement finds the construction of three new generators prudent, subject to customer protection conditions and later prudence reviews, and says the certification is not approval of the utility's service agreement with the customer.
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Training and Saving Checkpoint Progress: NERC's White Paper on Emerging Large Loads
A white paper of NERC's Large Loads Task Force, dated July 2025, sets out the characteristics and risks of emerging large loads. It says that, generally, AI training executed in large clusters has rapid fluctuations during training periods and while saving checkpoint progress, and that the rapid ramps seen in those cycles are not observed in current AI inference methods.
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Financing and contracts Power contracts
In a Manner Designed to Protect Existing Customers: The Georgia Commission's Order on One Utility's Rules for Large New Customers
On January 23, 2025, the Georgia Public Service Commission approved, as modified by its staff, one utility's revisions to its rules for large new customers, which allow minimum billing requirements and longer contract term lengths. The order gives no figure for either, and requires the utility to file the complete contract on all new contracts.
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Load That Did Not Return for Hours: NERC's Incident Review of a Data Center Load Loss
On July 10, 2024, faults on a transmission line in the Eastern Interconnection were cleared properly, and data centers in the area moved their load to backup power. NERC's incident review says most of the sustained load reduction came with the third voltage depression, and that this load did not return for hours.
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Financing and contracts Financing
Subject to Closing Conditions: Equinix's Release on a Joint Venture for Hyperscale Data Centers
On October 1, 2024, Equinix announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with two partners, subject to closing conditions. Each party has made equity commitments, the venture expects to take on debt, and the company expects it to build campuses for hyperscale customers.
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Grid interconnection Grid constraints
Lines to Import Power: ERCOT's Reliability Plan for the Permian Basin Region
In July 2024 ERCOT filed a plan for the transmission needed to serve forecast load in the Permian Basin region of West Texas. Its paper on the plan says significant lines will be needed to import power, and sets out the forecast load and cost estimates for options at different voltages.
