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Utility Dive Trendline on Reliability
PJM Interconnection is evaluating reliability requirements such as "ride-through" standards for data centers and crypto mines in response to the July 22 event where approximately 3,800 MW of load was lost in Northern Virginia. The event was triggered by a 230 kV line fault in Dominion Energy's territory, causing PJM's total load to drop by about 3.8%. PJM restored area control error limits within 9 minutes, better than NERC's 30-minute standard. Two similar load transfer events of about 1,500 MW occurred in the region in 2024 and 2025. PJM is considering expanding reliability requirements, while NERC, per FERC's directive, must complete registration standards for computational loads by December 31, but voltage and frequency ride-through requirements are not expected until next year.
Utility Dive Trendline on Grid Resiliency
US President Trump signed an executive order on August 26 declaring a national emergency to address potential national security risks posed by foreign-made bulk power system equipment. The order authorizes the Secretary of Energy to develop implementation rules within 120 days and may impose conditions on already installed equipment. Industry groups and manufacturers generally believe that the order's definitions in areas such as software and digital products still require further clarification.
Utility Dive Trendline on Virtual Power Plants
On August 11, the Nevada Public Utilities Commission approved NV Energy's launch of two performance-based distributed energy credit programs, aligning the state with other pay-for-performance virtual power plant models, but limited participation by third-party resource aggregators has been called a 'missed opportunity to establish a broader market.'
Utility Dive Trendline on Data Centers and the US Grid
Microsoft and PowerHouse Hillwood Holding have separately disputed data center service agreements in Wisconsin and Illinois, with related filings submitted to the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Microsoft argues that the agreement filed by American Transmission Company (ATC) is flawed and could shift costs to ordinary users; PowerHouse Hillwood requests FERC to reject ComEd's cancellation notice, alleging it uses monopoly power to obstruct the project.