FERC put the whole grid on notice on June 18, 2026. Intervention in all six show-cause dockets closes today. See the FERC Compliance Clock below for the deadline ladder. ERCOT, intrastate, stays on its own track.
U.S. ISO/RTO large-load positioning
A manually maintained view of queue pressure, large-load posture, reform status, and market positioning for data-center and energy-project development.
Current market read
Baseline · July 9, 2026- ERCOT
- SPP
- PJM
- NYISO
- MISO
- CAISO
- ISO-NE
ERCOT and SPP screen as the most favorable large-load markets based on speed, framework clarity, and development posture. PJM, NYISO, and MISO remain mixed because demand is real but rules, queues, or cost allocation are still moving. CAISO and ISO-NE screen as challenged for large-load and data-center development due to queue duration, market size, cost, or siting constraints.
Confidence — High: confirmed by the operator or a primary filing. Medium: reported by a credible secondary source. Low: directional estimate, verify before relying.
FERC Compliance Clock: the six show-cause orders
On June 18, 2026, FERC issued Section 206 show-cause orders to all six jurisdictional grid operators, preliminarily finding their tariffs unjust and unreasonable on large-load interconnection. Each must justify its rules or rewrite them. The clock below tracks every deadline in the proceeding. Non-RTO utilities (including most of the Southeast and West) are outside these orders but were encouraged to file voluntary reforms.
| Date | Milestone | Status |
|---|---|---|
| June 18, 2026 | Orders issued to PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE, NYISO | Passed |
| July 9, 2026 | Intervention deadline for interested parties in all six dockets | Live today |
| July 20, 2026 | Informational reports due: each RTO must show how generation will be adequate to serve new large loads | Upcoming |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Deadline to request a 90-day abeyance (pushes the response to Nov 15) | Upcoming |
| Aug 17, 2026 | Show-cause responses due: justify the tariff or propose revisions | Upcoming |
| Sept 16, 2026 | Stakeholder replies to RTO responses due | Upcoming |
Furthest ahead. FERC praised its HILL and HILLGA frameworks and told other regions to follow its lead; remaining gaps are alternative transmission technology evaluation and pro forma service agreement terms.
Partial credit. Already under a December 2025 co-location order with a compliance filing accepted in part in June 2026; exempted from some directives other regions received.
On notice. FERC flagged the fastest data-center growth of any region (43% compound annual growth in data center capacity since 2020) against a tariff with no consistent large-load framework.
Has load-study thresholds (10 MW and up at 115 kV+) but no tailored large-load service rules.
Load interconnection lives at the utility level, not the ISO; FERC wants clarity anyway.
No express large-load provisions at all. FERC called its concern here less urgent than other regions but still ordered justify-or-reform.
FERC's five reform categories: faster study processes, cost-shift protection, co-location and behind-the-meter rules, flexible transmission service for large loads, and paired load-generation studies. The commission told the RTOs it prefers they file voluntary Section 205 revisions rather than wait to be rewritten.
What moved this week
Cross-market summary of meaningful changes since the last review.
- Jul 9, 2026FERC.Intervention window closes today in all six show-cause dockets. The parties on these service lists will shape large-load rules in every organized market. Source ↗
- Jul 7, 2026PJM.2028/29 capacity auction closed; results land July 14 after 4 p.m. ET. First auction since the negotiated price cap expired. The 2027/28 auction cleared at the $333.44/MW-day cap and PJM's own simulation showed roughly $530 without it. Source ↗
- Jul 10, 2026ERCOT.Batch Zero paperwork due July 10 (legacy study approvals, notarized ILLE commitment forms) and July 15 (project info and financial security). Enverus estimates ~21.7 GW across 55 projects can make the cut; ~37 GW across 62 projects likely defer to Batch 1. Source ↗
- Jul 1, 2026Virginia.Data center electricity tax took effect. First of its kind: $0.011 per kWh on all data center consumption, projected at ~$600M/yr for the state general fund. The largest data center market in the world just put a per-kWh price on itself. Source ↗
- Jul 2026Stargate Abilene.Projected to cross 1 GW of facility power this month (Epoch AI), one of five US campuses crossing the gigawatt line in 2026 alongside Anthropic-Amazon New Carlisle, xAI Colossus 2, Microsoft Fayetteville, and Meta Prometheus. Source ↗
- Jun 2026FERC fast lanes.Approved two: PJM's Expedited Interconnection Track (up to 10 requests/yr, 250 MW min, ~10 months to an IA, sunsets end of 2027) and SPP's CHILLS, non-firm transmission service for up to seven years while network upgrades get built. Source ↗
Use this table as a directional market screen. Queue figures, large-load posture, reform status, and author analysis are shown side by side so a reader can quickly compare where development may be easier, harder, or simply less certain.
- Total queue MW
- 453,562
- Large-load MW
- 238,600
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4.2
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 151,000
- Large-load MW
- 26,400
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Transparent
- Changed
- Improved
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 353,000
- Large-load MW
- Not disclosed
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 4
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Low
- Total queue MW
- 26,470
- Large-load MW
- 11,900
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 6
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 118,800
- Large-load MW
- 55,000
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 8
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Improved
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 140,000
- Large-load MW
- 4,500
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 9.2
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
- Total queue MW
- 14,000
- Large-load MW
- 110
- Avg wait (yrs)
- 3.7
- Queue status
- reform-in-progress
- Posture
- Developing
- Changed
- Unknown
- Confidence
- Medium
Positioning tiers are the author's analysis based on current queue dynamics, reform status, large-load posture, and policy signals. They are not official ISO ratings.
Selected project signals
Selected publicly announced projects that may signal large-load demand, interconnection pressure, generation needs, transmission investment, or grid-adjacent construction activity.
This is not a complete project database. Inclusion means only that a project is publicly announced or reported and may be relevant to the market screen.
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Operational
- Location
- Abilene, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 1,200 MW
- COD
- Projected to cross 1 GW of facility power in July 2026 per Epoch AI's independent buildout tracking; two buildings live since Sept 2025, remaining six ramping through 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Albany / Abilene, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 1,400 MW
- COD
- First building H2 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Lebanon, IN
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 1,000 MW
- COD
- Late 2027 to early 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Delayed
- Location
- Amarillo, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- 11,000 MW
- COD
- Uncertain; construction paused early 2026; first ~1,000 MW targeted end of 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Mount Pleasant, WI
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 900 MW
- COD
- Phased; Phase 1 ~400-450 MW; build-out approaching ~900 MW; projected up to ~3,300 MW by late 2027 across four buildings
- Type
- Transmission
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Ashburn / Leesburg, VA
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- N/A
- COD
- Targeted in service by June 1, 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Barker / western New York, NY
- ISO/RTO
- NYISO
- Est. load
- 200 MW
- COD
- Phased; CB-5 building H2 2026, expansion to 138+ MW by 2028-2029
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- New Albany, OH
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 1,000 MW
- COD
- Targeted online 2026-2027; on-site ~200 MW gas generation targeted Nov 2026
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Holly Ridge / Rayville, LA
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 5,000 MW
- COD
- Phased through the late 2020s
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- Homer City, PA
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 4,500 MW
- COD
- Phased from 2027
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Under Construction
- Location
- New Carlisle, IN
- ISO/RTO
- PJM
- Est. load
- 2,200 MW
- COD
- Phased; partial operation underway
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Port Washington, WI
- ISO/RTO
- MISO
- Est. load
- 900 MW
- COD
- Not confirmed
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Oklahoma — exact site not confirmed, OK
- ISO/RTO
- SPP
- Est. load
- 1,600 MW
- COD
- Power ramps from 2028
- Type
- Data Center
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- Kansas City, MO
- ISO/RTO
- SPP
- Est. load
- Not disclosed
- COD
- Not confirmed
- Type
- Transmission
- Status
- Permitting
- Location
- West Texas, TX
- ISO/RTO
- ERCOT
- Est. load
- N/A
- COD
- Targeted energization December 2028
Interconnection reform timeline
Dated regulatory and queue-reform actions across U.S. ISO/RTOs. Compiled from the recent reforms and upcoming milestones recorded on each ISO profile.
- Dec 2028MilestonePermian 765-kV backbone target energization
Oncor's Longshore–Drill Hole 765-kV line (~180 miles), first segment of the Permian 765-kV backbone, targeting December 2028.
Source ↗ - 2028MilestoneDirect Loss of Load accreditation begins
MISO moves to Direct Loss of Load accreditation beginning with 2028/29 planning, valuing resources on performance during highest-risk hours.
Source ↗ - Aug 2027MilestoneERAS sunset window
ERAS ends August 31, 2027 or when the 68-project cap is met, whichever is earlier.
Source ↗ - Mar 2027MilestoneReliability Backstop Procurement Phase II
Phase II auction expected. Pairs with the May 2027 capacity-market reforms PJM previewed in its May 2026 white paper.
Source ↗ - Feb 2027MilestoneNY DPS large-load white paper
DPS staff to convene a technical conference before Dec 31, 2026 and issue a recommendations white paper by Feb 12, 2027.
Source ↗ - Dec 2026MilestonePUCT SB6 rulemaking deadline
PUCT must complete SB6 large-load rulemaking (standardized interconnection, load transparency, curtailment rules) by Dec 31, 2026. After 2026, only large loads with executed interconnection agreements count in the load forecast.
Source ↗ - Dec 2026MilestoneCapacity Auction Reforms — Phase 2
Phase 2 (separate summer/winter auctions plus accreditation reform) expected at FERC by the end of 2026.
Source ↗ - Dec 2026MilestoneNYISO Board approval / FERC filing
NYISO targets Board approval and FERC filing of large-load interconnection reforms by December 2026.
Source ↗ - Oct 2026MilestoneFirst full cluster study window
Request window for the first full cluster study opens October 2026.
Source ↗ - Sep 24, 2026MilestoneConsumer Liaison Group — Portland, ME
CLG meets Sept 24 in Portland, Maine (storage focus). The June 2 CLG meeting in Lowell, Mass. was the region's first major public forum on data center growth.
Source ↗ - Sep 2026MilestoneReliability Backstop Procurement Phase I
Phase I bilateral contracting targets a projected shortfall — initial procurement near 14.9 GW, revised toward roughly 9 GW. Paid for by large loads.
Source ↗ - Aug 17, 2026MilestoneShow-cause response due (EL26-72)
ISO-NE must justify or reform its large-load tariff by August 17, 2026 (Nov 15 with abeyance).
Source ↗ - Aug 17, 2026MilestoneShow-cause response due (EL26-70)
MISO must justify or reform its large-load tariff by August 17, 2026 (or November 15 with abeyance).
Source ↗ - Aug 17, 2026MilestoneShow-cause response due (EL26-71)
CAISO must justify or reform its large-load posture by August 17, 2026 (Nov 15 with abeyance). Because CAISO does not directly study load interconnections, its remedy will differ structurally from PJM's.
Source ↗ - Aug 6, 2026MilestoneTransitional cluster study completion
First cluster study expected complete by August 6, 2026.
Source ↗ - Jul 14, 2026MilestonePJM 2028/29 BRA results
2028/29 Base Residual Auction ran June 30–July 7, 2026; results released July 14 after 4 p.m. ET. First auction without the cap/floor construct. The 2027/28 auction cleared at the $333.44/MW-day cap; PJM's own simulation showed roughly $530/MW-day without it. Top upcoming milestone on the tracker.
Source ↗ - Jul 10, 2026MilestoneBatch Zero qualification deadlines
ERCOT's first structured large-load interconnection batch under PGRR145 hits qualification deadlines July 10–24, 2026, with financial security requirements on the order of $50,000/MW. Enverus estimates ~21.7 GW across 55 projects can make the cut; ~37 GW across 62 projects likely defer to Batch 1.
Source ↗ - Jul 1, 2026MilestoneVirginia data center electricity tax effective
Virginia's first-of-its-kind $0.011/kWh tax on all data center consumption took effect July 1, 2026. Projected ~$600M/yr for the state general fund. Applies within the Dominion (PJM) zone.
Source ↗ - Jul 2026MilestoneMonterey Park data-center ban
Monterey Park, Calif. voters approved a ballot measure banning data centers inside city limits — an early example of prohibition by referendum. (Data Center Knowledge, July 2026.)
Source ↗ - Jun 2026ReformFERC approves Expedited Interconnection Track
FERC approved PJM’s temporary Expedited Interconnection Track for large, shovel-ready capacity resources. PJM expects qualifying projects to execute GIAs within 10 months and be operational within three years.
Source ↗ - Jun 2026Reform2026 OMS-MISO Survey
Utilities expect ~15 GW/yr of new accredited summer capacity through 2031, with ~4 GW/yr moving through the ERAS lane. (OMS-MISO Survey, June 4, 2026; TD World.)
Source ↗ - Jun 2026ReformFERC approves CHILLS non-firm service
On June 5, 2026 FERC approved SPP's Conditional High Impact Large Load Service (CHILLS), providing up to seven years of non-firm transmission service to large loads that agree to curtailment during grid emergencies while they acquire firm service.
Source ↗ - May 2026Reform2026 CELT Report — first large-load forecast
The 2026 CELT Report (published May 1, 2026) debuted ISO-NE's first-ever large load forecast component, built from transmission-owner surveys with proposals derated by development maturity. (ISO Newswire, May 2026.)
Source ↗ - May 2026Reform
- Mar 2026ReformPUCT draft rule 16 TAC 25.194
PUCT published draft large-load interconnection rule March 12, 2026 requiring $50,000/MW financial security, 5-yr-plus site control, and intermediate agreements before study. Comments due April 17, 2026.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026ReformCapacity Auction Reforms — Phase 1 accepted
FERC accepted Phase 1 of ISO-NE's Capacity Auction Reforms on March 31, 2026: auctions move from three years forward to roughly one month before delivery, starting 2028. Resources must be operational to sell capacity, ending phantom entry. Phase 2 (separate summer/winter auctions plus accreditation reform) expected at FERC by end of 2026.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026ReformClass Year Queue Window proposal
NYISO continued refining its proposed class-year queue window to replace current interconnection queue processes; stakeholders still raising prioritization and off-ramp concerns.
Source ↗ - Mar 2026MilestoneConsolidated Planning Process effective
SPP's CPP became effective ~March 1, 2026, sunsetting the interim Priority Process.
Source ↗ - Feb 2026ReformCo-location compliance filings
PJM filed Jan 20 and Feb 23, 2026 compliance proposals establishing a Necessary Studies process requiring co-located generators to bear upgrade costs and adjust Capacity Interconnection Rights.
Source ↗ - Feb 2026ReformHochul 'Energize NY' PSC proceeding
Governor Hochul announced a PSC proceeding to streamline interconnection rules and require data centers driving exceptional demand to cover the grid-upgrade costs they create.
Source ↗ - Jan 2026ReformFERC approves HILL initiative
FERC approved SPP's High Impact Large Load initiative establishing protocols to accelerate large-load interconnection and associated generation while protecting consumers.
Source ↗ - Jan 2026ReformLarge Load Considerations initiative
CAISO opened a Large Load Considerations initiative with an issue paper January 30, 2026, working the seams between utility-level load interconnection and CAISO transmission planning.
Source ↗ - 2026MilestoneTrack 3 second FERC filing
CAISO to file second Track 3 reforms in 2026, with more granular processing timelines for Cluster 16 and future clusters.
Source ↗ - Dec 2025ReformFERC co-location show-cause order
FERC directed PJM to create three new transmission service options for co-located large loads and revise behind-the-meter generation rules to curb cost-shifting.
Source ↗ - Dec 2025ReformOncor Longshore–Drill Hole 765-kV line filed
Oncor filed the ~180-mile Longshore–Drill Hole 765-kV line in December 2025, the first leg of the Permian 765-kV backbone, targeting energization by December 2028.
Source ↗ - Dec 2025ReformSecond ERAS cycle
MISO announced its second Expedited Resource Addition Study cycle (~6.1 GW), primarily battery and gas, to fast-track reliability-critical generation.
Source ↗ - Oct 2025ReformFirst transitional cluster study
Launched first-ready-first-served cluster study of 26 interconnection requests (~8 GW): 21 battery, 3 wind, 2 solar, mostly in Massachusetts. Adds financial and site-control requirements and withdrawal penalties.
Source ↗ - Oct 2025ReformIPE 5.0 draft final proposal
CAISO released Interconnection Process Enhancements 5.0 draft final proposal, refining scoring, deliverability, and readiness reforms.
Source ↗ - Sep 2025ReformRR696 / HILL pathways
SPP Board passed Revision Request 696 in September 2025, paving the way for CHILL service and HILLGA — a streamlined large-load path with ~90-day interconnection agreements.
Source ↗ - Jun 2025ReformSenate Bill 6 signed
Directs PUCT to create large-load interconnection standards, transparency requirements, financial security, and mandatory/voluntary curtailment programs for loads 75 MW+.
Source ↗ - Dec 2024ReformJTIQ portfolio approved
Joint Targeted Interconnection Queue portfolio with SPP approved, enabling ~28.6 GW of generation to interconnect along the MISO-SPP seam.
Source ↗ - Oct 2024ReformZonal interconnection reform approved
FERC approved CAISO's zonal, scored interconnection process applying to Cluster 15, designating merchant zones where developers fund upgrades.
Source ↗
Last full data refresh: July 9, 2026. Project signals and analyst revisions will be added in future updates.