“Large Loads”—Meaning Data Centers—Won't Wait

At its June 18th, 2026, Open Meeting the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced bipartisan action for Large Loads (aka, data centers). Secretary of Energy Chris Wright had pressed FERC in October 2025 to devise new rules to address administrative delays and large, looming consumer costs associated with such Large Loads. Rather than open a proceeding to create one set of new Large Load rules, FERC took a different approach. The agency directed its six regional transmission organizations (RTOs) to develop their own Large Load remedies through six “show cause” proceedings. FERC's action compels the six RTOs to justify, in the next 60 days, why their existing means for dealing with Large Loads—again, data centers—are “just and reasonable.” If not, such show cause proceedings compel the RTOs to propose and implement specific remedies.