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FERC orders six US grid operators to fix or defend rules for connecting data centres

PolicyComputeUSReported

After the Energy Secretary used a rarely invoked power in October 2025 to direct FERC to act on interconnecting loads above 20MW, FERC chose six tailored Section 206 show-cause orders to PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE and NYISO rather than one national rule. Each must justify its tariff or propose reforms covering study procedures, network-upgrade cost recovery, co-location, flexible-load service and generation adequacy, with responses due 17 Aug 2026.

Why it matters

How fast and at whose cost large AI campuses can connect to the US grid will now be set region by region through these proceedings.

SourceVinson & ElkinsCoverage: OrrickCoverage: American Action Forum Based on credible reporting; we could not open the primary document. Independently fact-checked on 7 Oct 2026.
FERCDepartment of EnergyPJM InterconnectionMISOSPPCAISOISO New EnglandNYISO

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