The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will take action by June 2026 on the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) proceeding initiated by the U.S. Secretary of Energy that directs the Commission to consider potential reforms designed to ensure the timely, orderly, and equitable integration of significant electrical loads -- such as the increasing demand from data centers -- into the nation’s transmission infrastructure, it said on April 16.
“Our nation stands at a pivotal moment as we face rapid growth in demand from data centers and other large-scale consumers that are reshaping our transmission landscape. I want to reassure the public that we are addressing this challenge head-on, working tirelessly and collaboratively with stakeholders and federal partners to deliver real solutions. I encourage everyone to stay tuned as we build a resilient energy future together,” commented FERC Chairman Laura Swett.
Since the issuance of the ANOPR in October 2025, FERC has addressed several issues associated with large load growth, including:
• Issuing a December 2025 order requiring PJM Interconnection to implement transparent rules to accommodate substantial loads co-located with generation resources.
• Approving the Southwest Power Pool’s High Impact Large Load (HILL) initiative in January 2026, establishing new protocols intended to accelerate the interconnection of large loads and associated new generating resources while safeguarding consumer interests.
• Acting on multiple proposed tariffs and agreements related to large load interconnections, accepting many, while rejecting those exceeding the Commission’s jurisdiction or lacking reasonable cost allocation.
The Commission’s ongoing work also informs its announcement on April 16. For example, Commission staff have conducted a comprehensive review of over 3,500 pages of public comments in the ANOPR docket, engaged with stakeholders, and coordinated efforts across federal agencies.
In addition, Commissioners have evaluated recent developments outside the scope of the ANOPR, including initiatives by the National Energy Dominance Council, the January 2026 Statement of Principles concerning PJM, and the President’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge announced in March.
