State Energy Insights: September 2025

Grid Reliability and Regulatory Updates from ReliabilityFirst

News & Updates

FERC Chairman David Rosner speaks with NERC President and CEO Jim Robb on stage at RF’s Fall Reliability and Security Summit in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on Sept. 9, 2025.

RF brings together key energy industry players, including FERC chairman, for Reliability & Security Summit

RF hosted its 2025 Fall Reliability & Security Summit last week in the Washington, D.C., area. This event brought together key players from across the energy industry, including more than 200 people in person across the three-day event, and more than 150 people for a portion of the event that was livestreamed virtually.

Throughout the summit, the focus of the programming centered on maintaining and improving the reliability and security of the electric grid. We were thrilled to host an incredible lineup of speakers who shared their valuable insights with our audience, including newly appointed FERC Chairman David Rosner, who sat down for a “fireside chat” with NERC President and CEO Jim Robb. Attendees also took in a riveting panel discussion featuring PPL Electric Utilities President Christine Martin, AEP President and CEO Bill Fehrman, Electric Power Supply Association President and CEO Todd Snitchler, and FERC Office of Energy Infrastructure Security Director Joe McClelland.

To see more highlights from this event, check out our LinkedIn feed.

RF to discuss reliability impact of recent federal actions at upcoming OPSI meeting

RF Manager of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs Michelle Cross will join a panel discussion focused on the impact of executive orders, Department of Energy actions, and changes in federal law on wholesale electric markets at the annual meeting of the Organization of PJM States, Inc. (OPSI) on Oct. 6-7 in Washington, D.C.

RF’s role in the discussion will be a focus on maintaining grid reliability and security while navigating policy decisions.

More information on this event is available here.

NERC Large Loads Task Force releases white paper on characteristics and risks of emerging large loads

As emerging large loads seek to swiftly interconnect to the grid, they pose new risks. NERC’s Large Load Task Force analyzes the reliability impacts related to emerging large loads (such as AI data centers, industrial facilities, and hydrogen production facilities). The task force’s recent white paper characterizes large loads and defines the reliability risks that they may pose to the Bulk Power System. The white paper is available here.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) releases advisory on threat actors from China, recommendations to mitigate risk

Earlier this month, CISA (in partnership with other agencies such as the NSA and FBI and international agency partners) released a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory on state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actors from China that are “targeting critical infrastructure across sectors and continents to maintain persistent, long-term access to networks” for use in global espionage.

The advisory states that multiple investigations have shown that these actors are exploiting vulnerabilities in the routers of telecommunications providers to gain and maintain access, particularly in telecommunications, government, transportation, lodging, and defense networks. The advisory also contains recommended actions and mitigations to help address the threat.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 20, 2-3:30 p.m. ET | Tech Talk with RF

Coming up on the October edition of Tech Talk with RF, we’re focusing on cyber security for National Cyber Security Awareness Month.

We are still finalizing the agenda. Stay tuned for more details on our LinkedIn feed and website!

Event details