Regulatory Affairs news highlights: August 2026

 

Recent regulatory headlines we’re tracking include:

 

NERC to release draft Reliability Standards, updated registry criteria for computational loads

NERC will release draft Reliability Standards and updated registry criteria for computational loads for public comment on Aug. 19.

This follows the recently issued FERC order on July 16 directing NERC to develop and submit new or modified Reliability Standards to integrate computational loads onto the bulk power system, and to revise its Rules of Procedure (ROP) to include computational load entities. NERC has been actively collaborating with stakeholders to develop revised registry criteria and standards, and the FERC order aligns with ongoing efforts outlined in NERC’s Large Loads Action Plan.

NERC must file its new or modified Reliability Standards and revisions to the ROP by December 31, 2026, and must file its workplan by March 1, 2027. FERC’s Order follows the Department of Energy’s October 2025 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) that directed FERC to consider how to interconnect large loads. NERC filed comments to the ANOPR in support of developing standards and registration criteria to help manage the risk that large loads pose to the reliability of the BPS.

 

Senate Energy Committee holds FERC oversight hearing

The U.S. Senate Energy Committee held a FERC oversight hearing on July 22, and all the FERC Commissioners provided testimony. FERC Chair Laura Swett focused on ensuring both reliability and protecting customers with reasonable rates. Her remarks included a discussion on the importance of ensuring adequate natural gas pipeline capacity for lower energy prices. Commissioner David Rosner highlighted the success of NERC’s recent extreme cold weather standards, and the discussed role of reliability solutions like advanced demand response, dynamic line ratings, predictive artificial intelligence, and emerging cybersecurity technologies. A full recording of the hearing is available here.

 

CISA issues advisory related to foreign targeting of vulnerable networking devices in critical infrastructure

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in collaboration with the National Security Agency, FBI, and other international agencies, released an advisory titled Improve Router Hygiene to Protect Against Russian State-Sponsored Targeting. The advisory states that foreign cyber actors are targeting vulnerable networking devices in critical infrastructure sectors globally, including the energy sector. It describes some of the cyber actors’ techniques and strongly recommends specific mitigation actions in response to each one.