You’re probably not surprised to learn that “move fast and break things” is not, in fact, one of the guiding principals of the power industry. Nor, for that matter, of aviation, medicine, structural engineering or a slew of other regulation-intensive sectors. These industries are regulated because the downside risk can be catastrophic, and often irreversible, not just because “bureaucrats hate innovation.” Regulation is the encoded memory of previous disasters and the determi

From long-term, multi-year time horizons in a Load-Serving Entity's (LSE) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), to short-term next-day or next-hour trading, forecasting and meeting demand is the foundation of any load-serving entity's responsibility for reliable power delivery. LSEs use demographic information, historical consumption data, weather patterns, and economic indicators to predict future electricity needs. Advanced analytics and machine learning models enhance accuracy,

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How Utilities Can Navigate the Challenges of Long-Term Resource Commitments Understanding the Challenges of Long-Term Decisions Utilities face immense pressure to make long-term decisions, often locking up hundreds of millions of dollars in generation assets. These assets are designed to operate for decades. However, the rapid changes in technology, policy, and climate politics can render these investments as stranded assets long before their expected lifespan. We expect util

In prior posts, we have shared research indicating the increasing demands on the electric grid led by the ongoing buildout of AI and other electrification projects. While we believe the electric industry can meet this challenge, we are also aware of the dynamics that make delivering more reliable and affordable energy are complex. The governmental regulation of natural monopoly utilities has undergone many changes from the early commissions established to regulate the buildou

The electrification wave isn’t just coming—it’s here. After years of relatively flat electricity usage, demand is now climbing at an unprecedented pace, driven by energy-intensive technologies and sweeping electrification trends. For utility procurement teams, this isn’t a minor adjustment; it’s a fundamental shift requiring new approaches. The question isn’t if demand will surge—it’s how fast and how prepared you are . The Scale of the Surge Forecasts from McKinsey and the

As the energy transition accelerates, utility procurement professionals find themselves at the center of a growing storm of policy, customer, and market complexity. No longer is procurement simply a matter of securing the lowest-cost supply to match a predictable load. Today, buyers must plan for load profiles that change quickly, regulatory expectations that evolve faster than implementation cycles, and a resource mix that must meet decarbonization goals without compromising

RFPpower attended the WSPP meeting in Tucson last week. The three major issues explored were: 1) the Secretary of Energy's recent direction to FERC to initiate a rulemaking on Interconnection of Large Load and to reach "final action" by April 30, 2026; 2) ongoing development of day-ahead imbalance markets from the CAISO and SPP as well as the SPP expansion; and 3) continuing developments on resource adequacy requirements throughout the western interconnect. All weighty issues

The energy landscape is shifting rapidly. As electricity demand rises, so does the urgency to find sustainable solutions. We see a clear trend: the demand for clean energy is growing stronger every year. This shift is not just about environmental responsibility. It’s about securing reliable, cost-effective power for the future. For those managing energy procurement, understanding this trend shapes how we plan, negotiate, and secure energy resources. Understanding the Demand