RTO Insider Daily Headlines for October 2, 2026.
In this episode:
• Backlash Engulfs West Virginia Data Center Law (RTO Insider)
Consternation, not celebration, is dogging The Power Generation and Consumption Act. The act, part of an expansive agenda that includes tripling West Virginia’s generating capacity by 2050, created a microgrid program to let new “high-impact” data centers build standalone power supplies without the need to tap into the grid.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/137837-is-w-va-microgrid-law-aimed-at-attracting-data-centers-working/
• Scheduling Conflicts Hamper GCPA’s Fall Conference (RTO Insider)
The CEOs and five staff members from ERCOT, the Texas PUC, the Texas Office of the Public Utility Counsel and Lower Colorado River Authority all had scheduling conflicts, according to the Gulf Coast Power Association, and were unable to participate in the Fall seminar.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147179-scheduling-conflicts-hamper-gcpa-fall-conference/
• MISO Tries Different Tack for PRMR Allocation, Decides on Forecasting Approach (RTO Insider)
MISO announced it’s abandoning a plan to use settled load to divide its resource planning obligations among its load-serving entities, moving instead to a forecasting approach it once vowed not to use.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147168-miso-tries-different-tack-prmr-allocation-decides-forecasting-approach/
• Pennsylvania PUC Advances Large Load Power Curtailment Plan (RTO Insider)
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is forging ahead with a proposal to ensure that data centers and other large load customers don’t get special treatment during emergency power cutbacks.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147082-pa-puc-approves-tentative-order-emergency-load-control-procedures/
• The Bid to Align Energy Permitting and the Public Interest (RTO Insider commentary)
A larger, more secure North American power grid has been an energy policy priority for grid experts for more than two decades, touched off by the stunning 2003 Northeast Blackout, which streaked around the eastern Great Lakes, cutting off power to 50 million people.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147152-whats-the-meaning-of-the-siting-permitting-proposal-in-congress/
• IESO/OEB Briefs: Oct. 1, 2026 (RTO Insider)
IESO says it will provide additional technical justification for its 100-MW/minute battery ramp-rate limit at a future engagement after storage stakeholders questioned the basis for the restriction.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147067-ieso-oeb-briefs-100126/
• PGE Says EDAM Entry Brings ‘Huge Expansion’ of Opportunities (RTO Insider)
Portland General Electric said its entry into CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market on Oct. 1 went down without any hiccups and is now focused on reaping the benefits from the market.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147173-pge-edam-entry-smooth-huge-opportunities/
• Virginia Energy Plan Considers How to Achieve Net Zero with Demand Growth (RTO Insider)
The 2026 Virginia Energy Plan includes different ways of reliably and affordably meeting growing power demand while staying on track for a net-zero power sector by 2050.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147180-spanberger-introduces-virginia-energy-plan/
• Colo. PUC Drafts Rules for Wildfire Plans, PSPS (RTO Insider)
The Colorado PUC has released draft rules aimed at bringing consistency and transparency to electric utility plans for wildfire mitigation and public safety power shutoffs, including communication requirements and independent review of wildfire risk assessments.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147170-colorado-puc-drafts-rules-wildfire-plans-psps/
• NextEra-Dominion Merger Spurs Widespread Concern in ISO-NE and PJM (RTO Insider)
NextEra Energy’s proposed acquisition of Dominion Energy faces substantial pushback over concerns about increased market power and negative effects on ratepayers.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147172-nextera-dominion-merger-spurs-widespread-concern-iso-ne-pjm/
• States Dissatisfied with Endorsed Term Sheet of PJM Governance Changes (RTO Insider)
PJM stakeholders endorsed a term sheet of proposals drafted by a coalition of members to re-envision the RTO’s governance and stakeholder process giving states more opportunity for input, but not to the satisfaction of several state and consumer advocate officials.
https://www.rtoinsider.com/147166-states-dissatisfied-endorsed-term-sheet-pjm-governance-changes/
Chapters:
00:07 Introduction
00:14 Backlash Engulfs West Virginia Data Center Law
00:36 Scheduling Conflicts Hamper GCPA’s Fall Conference
00:57 MISO Tries Different Tack for PRMR Allocation, Decides on Forecasting Approach
01:14 Pennsylvania PUC Advances Large Load Power Curtailment Plan
01:29 Commentary: The Bid to Align Energy Permitting and the Public Interest
01:48 IESO/OEB Briefs: Oct. 1, 2026
02:05 PGE Says EDAM Entry Brings ‘Huge Expansion’ of Opportunities
02:20 Virginia Energy Plan Considers How to Achieve Net Zero with Demand Growth
02:35 Colo. PUC Drafts Rules for Wildfire Plans, PSPS
02:56 NextEra-Dominion Merger Spurs Widespread Concern in ISO-NE and PJM
03:11 States Dissatisfied with Endorsed Term Sheet of PJM Governance Changes
03:31 Subscribe
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Music provided by BreakzStudios.
