The U.S. electric grid is standing at a crossroads. Power demand is climbing fast - driven by data centers, AI infrastructure, electrification, and manufacturing resurgence - yet new transmission lines are moving at a fraction of the pace needed.
We can’t build our way out of this bottleneck fast enough. But we can make the system we already have perform better. That’s where Advanced Conductors and Grid-Enhancing Technologies - known collectively as GETs - come in.
These technologies are giving utilities a way to double transmission capacity on existing lines, improve efficiency, and cut losses, all without new rights-of-way or decade-long permitting battles. And increasingly, state regulators are taking notice.
A Bottleneck Decades in the Making
Most of America’s transmission network was built for another era - one dominated by central power stations, predictable demand, and a slower pace of change.
Today’s grid has to move power from thousands of renewable plants, balance intermittent supply, and serve data centers that each consume as much electricity as a small city. Yet, according to the DOE, the U.S. is building less than one-quarter of the new high-voltage transmission it needs to meet its 2035 clean-energy goals.
The consequences are visible: rising congestion costs, delayed generation projects, and mounting reliability risks. And with permitting timelines averaging seven to ten years, simply stringing new lines isn’t going to solve the problem soon enough.
A Better Way: Upgrade What We Have
Advanced Conductors and GETs represent the fastest, most cost-effective way to boost capacity.
Advanced Conductors - such as those built with carbon composite cores - replace the steel reinforcement used in conventional ACSR or ACSS designs. They’re lighter, stronger, and thermally stable at high temperatures, allowing utilities to safely carry twice the current with far less sag. That means existing corridors can transmit far more power, often with no new structures required.
Grid-Enhancing Technologies add intelligence to the system. Dynamic Line Rating (DLR) sensors adjust capacity based on real-time temperature and wind conditions. Power flow controllers reroute electricity around congested paths. Software optimization tools identify the most efficient configuration for the entire network.
Together, these tools make the transmission system more dynamic, resilient, and cost-efficient - a smarter grid built on smarter wires.
States Take the Lead
Until recently, policy frameworks lagged behind the technology. That’s changing quickly.
California’s Senate Bill 1006 now requires utilities and the California ISO to study the feasibility of advanced conductors and GETs for every major transmission project. The state’s focus on wildfire safety and renewable integration makes this a natural fit: low-sag conductors operating at higher temperatures can reduce both risk and cost.
Massachusetts followed suit with a DPU investigation into advanced transmission solutions (D.P.U. 25-69), while Minnesota passed legislation requiring transmission owners to evaluate GETs and allowing cost recovery. Connecticut, Delaware, Virginia, and Montana have introduced or passed similar measures.
In parallel, the DOE’s Modern Grid Deployment Initiative has brought 21 states - including Arizona, Michigan, Oregon, New York, and Pennsylvania - into a collaborative framework to accelerate deployment of GETs and Advanced Conductors.
For perhaps the first time, there’s a visible national movement toward upgrading the grid we have, not just planning for the one we wish we had.
Why It Matters
The benefits are immediate and measurable.
Upgrading a transmission corridor with high-performance conductors can double its ampacity in months, not years. That means more renewables, more reliability, and more headroom for growth - all without triggering lengthy environmental reviews or community opposition.
Reducing line losses by even 10 percent translates into meaningful CO₂ reductions, since every megawatt-hour saved at the wire means less generation required upstream. And Advanced Conductors’ ability to maintain strength and low sag at high temperatures makes them invaluable for wildfire mitigation and climate resilience.
Utilities also gain visibility. Pairing Advanced Conductors with embedded sensors or DLR systems provides real-time data on line conditions, allowing operators to optimize loading, detect problems early, and avoid costly outages.
The Work Still to Do
Despite the progress, widespread adoption isn’t guaranteed. Most utilities still face regulatory uncertainty about how to treat GETs in cost recovery and planning. Some planners lack the tools or models to fully capture the operational benefits.
Bridging these gaps will require three things:
Regulatory alignment. Commissions should explicitly require that utilities evaluate GETs and Advanced Conductors in their Integrated Resource Plans and project filings. If these solutions prove cost-effective, they should be eligible for the same rate recovery as conventional upgrades.
Standardization and training. Industry standards must evolve to reflect modern conductor materials and dynamic ratings. Engineers, planners, and crews need consistent data and training so that advanced technologies can be integrated safely and effectively.
Federal-state collaboration. The DOE’s Grid Deployment Office can serve as a clearinghouse for technical data, pilot funding, and model evaluation frameworks. The more states align their approaches, the faster utilities can scale deployments.
Transparency will also play a key role. Releasing anonymized data on line utilization and congestion can help quantify the value of GETs and build regulatory confidence.
A Moment of Opportunity
The shift toward Advanced Conductors and GETs isn’t just about technology - it’s about timing.
The next decade will define the shape and capacity of the American grid for generations. With AI workloads, EV adoption, and renewable integration all accelerating simultaneously, utilities need solutions that deliver results now, not ten years from now.
By focusing on modernization instead of expansion, we can meet that demand while saving ratepayers money, reducing emissions, and improving resilience. The technology is proven, the economics are compelling, and the regulatory momentum is finally building.
Conclusion: Smarter Wires, Smarter Future
Every energy transition has depended on how quickly infrastructure adapts. Just as fiber optics revolutionized communication, Advanced Conductors and GETs can revolutionize transmission. They don’t replace new construction - but they buy us the time, capacity, and flexibility we desperately need.
States that act now are demonstrating that modernization doesn’t always mean more steel in the ground. Sometimes it simply means better engineering, better policy, and better use of what we already have.
If America’s grid is to meet its next great challenge, the answer isn’t just more generation - it’s smarter wires.