Regulatory Affairs news highlights: April 2026

 

Recent regulatory headlines we’re tracking include:

 

CISA issues Joint Cybersecurity Advisory warning of Iranian-affiliated threats across critical infrastructure sectors

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in conjunction with other governmental agencies including the Department of Energy, issued a Joint Cybersecurity Advisory, warning of Iranian-affiliated threats against operational technology (OT) devices across critical infrastructure sectors. Specifically, CISA warned that hackers are targeting programmable logic controller settings and “manipulat[ing] data on human machine interface and supervisory control and data acquisition displays.”  

 

NERC details Large Load Action Plan progress in Q1 update

NERC’s Large Load Action Plan Q1 2026 update details the latest progress on the ERO Enterprise’s efforts to address the emerging reliability issue related to large loads.

These emerging large loads—such as data centers (including cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence applications), hydrogen fuel plants, and others—present unique challenges in bulk power system (BPS) planning and operations.

Recent ERO Enterprise efforts include:

• In March, NERC submitted a supplemental letter to FERC detailing an accelerated action plan, including revising our registry criteria and Reliability Standards by the end of 2026. A Level 3 alert will also be issued this May to begin essential risk mitigation actions.
• The NERC Large Loads Working Group (LLWG) has released its second white paper, Assessment of Gaps in Existing Practices, Requirements, and Reliability Standards for Emerging Large Loads. NERC hosted an industry webinar discussing the white paper’s findings and recommendations for next steps on March 16.
• NERC posted its report summarizing the key findings from the Level 2 Recommendation to Industry: Large Load Interconnection, Study, Commissioning, and Operations with specific actions to mitigate risks to the BPS.
• NERC hosted a technical conference on February 24–25, 2026, to discuss power system risks and associated mitigation pathways for emerging large loads.
• On March 30, 2026, NERC hosted an informational webinar discussing next steps in the large loads process.

 

FERC to hold workshop on electric transmission formula rate processes 

FERC announced that on May 12 from 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET, it will hold a workshop on its electric transmission formula rate processes. FERC staff, utilities, and transmission formula rate data users will discuss: (1) the mechanics of transmission formula rates (including allocation of costs and revenues); (2) transmission formula rate implementation protocols (such as transparency and the ability to challenge them); (3) transmission formula rate annual updates; (4) the transmission formula rate audit program; (5) common compliance issues in transmission formula rates; and (6) FERC’s regulatory accounting program. The workshop will also be livestreamed on the FERC website. 

 

Senate committee hearing examines state of Bulk Power System

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recently held a hearing to “Examine the State of the Bulk Power System.” Witnesses for the hearing were Todd Snitchler, President & CEO of the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA); Travis Fisher, Director of Energy and Environmental Policy Studies at the Cato Institute; and Liza Reed, Director of Climate and Energy Policy at the Niskanen Center.  

Mr. Snitchler discussed the benefits of well-functioning competitive power markets to promote investment, as well as the importance of accurate load forecasting and permitting reform. Mr. Fisher argued for a Consumer Regulated Electricity (CRE) policy to allow privately financed, off-grid electric utilities to serve new customers (such as data centers) under voluntary contracts. Dr. Reed discussed the importance of high-capacity interregional transmission for both reliability and reduced energy costs, as well as of scaling up diverse generation sources (each with different strengths and weaknesses) to meet rising demand. She cited to NERC’s recent interregional transfer capability study, and advocated for a clear, federal siting authority for high-capacity interstate transmission lines to speed the process.  

A full recording of the hearing is available here. 

  

FERC issues 2025 State of the Markets Report

FERC staff issued its 2025 State of the Markets Report on March 19. Highlights from the report include the following: 

• Forecasts anticipate load growth of nearly 3% every year for the next decade (much faster than in the past). 
• Natural gas spot prices increased 67% year-over-year (reflecting tighter supply-demand conditions), and natural gas demand increased 4.6% from 2024. The volume of interstate natural gas pipeline projects proposed in 2025 was the highest since 2015. 
• Wholesale electricity prices increased 26% year-over-year nationwide, and total energy demand grew by 100 terawatt hours. 
• Total installed electricity capacity increased by 56 gigawatts, and over 1,900 new transmission projects entered service in 2025 across the U.S. (led by the ERCOT region).  

A FERC staff presentation with summary charts is available here.