State regulators are asking FERC to pump the brakes on its plan to regulate big data center connections. (NARUC)
The friction: In a new filing, NARUC argues that FERC’s proposal to standardize large load interconnections risks trampling on states’ exclusive rights to manage retail electricity and local grids.
It’s not just regulators crying foul: Comments from major players—including the Large Public Power Council and even tech giant Meta—urge caution against a “one-size-fits-all” federal rule that could spark years of legal battles instead of connecting power.
The ask: Rather than rushing out a new rule by next April as requested by DOE, NARUC is proposing a conference in January where states, tech firms, and grid operators can hash out a solution that doesn’t trigger a constitutional crisis. We’ll keep our calendars open.