ALABAMA

Alabama Power Moves Ahead with 2-year Rate Freeze

Alabama Power announced that all components of the company’s regulated retail rates are not scheduled to increase through 2027. Alabama Power said it will hold in place all existing factors in customer rates, including delaying until 2028 the implementation of previously approved adjustments for the Lindsay Hill generation facility. The move comes a year after the company projected a nearly 2% rate reduction for 2025.

More: Alabama.com

COLORADO

PUC Mandates Emissions Cuts for Gas Utilities

The Public Utilities Commission voted 2-1 for investor-owned gas utilities to cut carbon pollution by 41% from 2015 levels by 2035. The target — which builds on goals already set for 2025 and 2030 — is more consistent with the state’s aim to decarbonize by 2050 than the other proposals considered. Commissioners rejected the 22% to 30% cut utilities asked for and the 31% target state agencies recommended.

If utilities hit the 2035 mandate, they will avoid an estimated 45.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases over the next decade, according to the state’s Energy Office and the Department of Public Health and Environment.

More: Canary Media

IOWA

UC Approves Tx Lines to Power Data Centers

The Utilities Commission approved a $221 million high-voltage transmission line project that will help power two large data center developments under construction in Cedar Rapids. The order will allow ITC Midwest to build a 61-mile, 345-kV transmission line and rebuild another 34-mile, 161-kV transmission line. The project is key to providing power to two new, large energy users in Cedar Rapids’ Big Cedar Industrial Park.

More: Des Moines Register

NORTH DAKOTA

Judge Finds Carbon Dioxide Storage Law Unconstitutional

Northeast Judicial District Judge Anthony Swain Benson sided with a landowner group and found a state law related to underground storage of carbon dioxide to be unconstitutional. The Northwest Landowners Association sued North Dakota and the Industrial Commission in 2023, challenging a law that requires landowners to allow carbon dioxide storage beneath their property if at least 60% of the affected landowners agree to the project. 

Benson wrote in his order that the state law is unconstitutional because it allows a government-authorized taking of property without an avenue for “just” compensation determined by a jury. In this case, the property is pore space — cavities in underground rock formations where emissions can be trapped.

More: North Dakota Monitor

PENNSYLVANIA

PUC Slashes Columbia Gas Rate Hike

The Public Utility Commission reduced a Columbia Gas rate increase. Columbia Gas looked to raise the residential customer charge from $17.25 to $31.97/month. The PUC approved a charge of $23/month. The new rates will take effect on or after Jan. 1.

More: WHTM

UTAH

Rocky Mountain Power Requests Rate Increase to Feed Fire Fund

Rocky Mountain Power filed a request with the Public Service Commission seeking a 4.48% rate increase for all customers. The company’s request stems from a law the state passed in 2024, which allowed utilities to establish a restricted fire fund fed by a surcharge to ratepayers. With the increase, the company hopes to collect about $109 million a year, and eventually, after 10 years, about $1 billion. The increase would translate to about $3.70/month for the average residential customer.

More: Utah News Dispatch

WASHINGTON

Gov. Ferguson Approves Large-scale Solar Farm

Gov. Bob Ferguson notified the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council that he approved the 1,300-acre Carriger Solar project. The 160-MW project also will have 63 MW of battery storage and will tie into the Bonneville Power Administration transmission system.

More: Washington State Standard

WISCONSIN

PSC Approves Utilities’ Renewables Purchases

The Public Service Commission approved three utilities’ plans to purchase four new renewable energy projects. The purchases include the Saratoga Solar Energy Center, the Ursa Solar Park, the Badger Hollow Wind Farm and the Whitetail Wind Farm. The projects all had previous approvals from the PSC. We Energies will own 80% of each project, while Wisconsin Public Service and Madison Gas and Electric will each own 10%. The projects will cost $1.48 billion and are expected to come online in 2027 and 2028.

More: Wisconsin Public Radio