EUCI Blog

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Wholesale electricity prices in the U.S. are projected to rise by an average 12% this summer, and while the margin between demand and generation capacity will be thinner, there should be adequate capacity, according to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) assessment. Electricity demand this summer is expected to…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Electricity consumption in the U.S. is forecast to reach an all-time high by 2026, driven mainly by commercial and industrial demand, according to the federal Energy Information Administration (EIA). During the same 2025-2026 period, retail electricity prices are set to increase from 13% to 18%, depending on the region,…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The combination of coal-fired power plant closures, spurred by state and federal initiatives, and generous tax credits for new electric generation under the Inflation Reduction Act created a flood in renewable energy projects now waiting to get connected to the grid. “The surge in investment and development has overwhelmed…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer In the face of tariffs and economic and political uncertainties, the performance of clean energy technologies remains robust with 59 gigawatts (GW) of renewable generation and 31 GW of battery storage set to be installed in 2025, according to two market reports. “Investors and businesses navigating the energy transition…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer As data centers multiply and with them a sharp increase in the demand for electricity, nuclear power is poised for a resurgence providing as much as 10% of data center power in the next decade, according to a report by Deloitte. “Nuclear energy presents a potential solution for meeting…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer In the last 10 years more than $230 billion has flowed into energy startups, but in the face of economic and political uncertainty, that funding stream has slowed, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Between 2015 and 2022, funding for a broad range of startups rose 570%, but…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The Southwest Power Pool (SPP) – serving all or part of 14 states from Texas to North Dakota – will need as much as $263 billion in new generation and transmission through 2050 to support a peak demand projected to rise 40% to 80%. Those investments can be made…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Efforts to expand and modernize electric grids around the world – to cope with growing demand for power and a shift to renewable generation – are struggling to keep pace in the face of supply chain bottlenecks, according to an International Energy Agency (IEA) report. “Prices and procurement times…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Facing uncertainty and financial risks over the potential impact of tariffs on Canadian electricity imports, New England and New York grid operators are seeking permission from federal regulators to add a surcharge to cover import duties. ISO New England said in a filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Declines in hydropower output, caused by low stream flows in the Pacific Northwest, are forcing the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to buy more wholesale power leading to a projected $44 million loss. The agency had set a target of $70 million in revenues – so the gap between the…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer The Trump administration’s 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum – set to begin March 12 – will challenge the utility sector, but in the short run should not undermine company finances, according to the credit rating service Morningstar DBS. Still, the tariffs may have a ripple…

By Mark Jaffe, EUCI energy writer Frosty New England may not seem the best region for full-scale home-heating electrification, but while such a move might double demand, it could reduce the combined cost of natural gas and electricity by 29%, according to a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) study. With its cold winters, significant rural…