NWPPA Morning Brief

NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, November 13, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Approves WRAP Tariff Changes — https://www.electricenergyonline.com/archives.php?D=&categorie=158&titre=T
• Mullin Introduces RATES Act to Expand FERC Authority Over Utility Rate Filings — https://kevinmullin.house.gov/2026/11/12/rep-mullin-introduces-bill-to-streamline-federal-utility-rate-setting-lowering-consumer-costs

Top Regional / State Developments

• Alaska DNR Approves 50-Year Lease for 3 GW North Slope Data Center Campus — https://northern.org/news/a-50-year-bet-on-the-north-slope-what-alaska-approved-for-stak-and-what-comes-next/
• STAK Signs 15-Year ExxonMobil Gas Supply Agreement for Same Alaska Campus — https://www.environmentenergyleader.com/articles/45538-alaska-gas-deal-advances-3-gw-off-grid-power-project
• CPUC Calls California Wildfire Liability System 'Unsustainable.' — https://www.aol.com/articles/california-utility-regulator-calls-wildfire-130000000.html
• West Richland Council Deadlocks 3-3 on Data Center Moratorium — https://westsoundnews.com/after-vote-this-washington-city-is-still-open-to-proposal-for-21-data-centers/

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• SMUD Reviews Large-Load Policy as Two 50+ MW Data Center Inquiries Advance — https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/smud-reviews-large-load-policies-amid-new-data-center-inquiries/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, November 12, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Approves SPP Topology Optimization to Cut Congestion Costs — https://energyreader.io/brief/18876
• BAAJA Tribal Amendment Filed; Senate Floor Vote Expected Week of November 16 — https://www.washingtonsun.com/energy-environment/senate-democrats-tribal-concerns-permitting-deal

Top Regional / State Developments

• Montana PSC Approves $15.4 Billion NorthWestern-Black Hills Merger on 3-2 Vote — https://dailymontanan.com/2026/11/10/public-service-commission-approves-northwestern-energy-black-hills-corp-merger/
• Wyoming PSC Denies Anschutz Bid to Escape Utility Regulation on Direct-Power Project — https://register.calyxos.ai/power/
• Nevada PUCN Approves Switch 510 MW Behind-the-Meter Gas Plant — https://newsinlasvegas.com/news/nevada-regulators-approve-switch-natural-gas-plant/
• Washington UTC Approves 7.9% Pacific Power Rate Decrease — https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/54421-pacific-power-customers-in-washington-to-see-nearly-8-percent-rate-decrease/
• Montana PSC Rate Order Disputed by Commissioner Over Vote Recording — https://wisevoter.com/world/us/mt/2026/11/11/montana-electric-rate-increase-vote-dispute

AI and Large Load Demand Radar

• Boise Imposes Six-Month Moratorium on Large Data Centers — https://voltgridnews.com/story/boise-votes-6-month-moratorium-on-data-centers-of-20-mw-or-more

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, November 10, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• Senate advances BAAJA permitting bill 73-25 — https://www.power-technology.com/news/us-senate-bill-energy-project-permits/
• DOE renews Puerto Rico emergency reliability orders through February 2027 — https://www.tdworld.com/reliability-and-resiliency/news/55417603/doe-renews-emergency-orders-to-support-puerto-ricos-electric-grid-reliability
• PJM secures DOE authority to direct data center backup generation; plans emissions waiver request — https://power-eng.com/business/policy-and-regulation/pjm-puts-generator-performance-at-the-center-of-its-cold-weather-plans

Top Regional / State Developments

• Wyoming committee advances bill redirecting 40% of data center electricity tax revenue to WYDOT trust fund — https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/11/09/wyoming-lawmakers-advance-bill-to-invest-data-center-taxes-for-wydot/
• Pacific Power files 57% California rate increase citing wildfire costs — https://wisevoter.com/world/us/ca/2026/11/07/pacific-power-seeks-57-percent-rate-increase
• EWEB advances $502 million 2027 budget with ~7% rate increase — https://www.klcc.org/economy-business/2026-11-05/ewebs-2027-budget-includes-rate-increases-as-it-plans-for-infrastructure-projects
• Alaska RCA approves ENSTAR winter gas exchange agreement — https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in
• PacifiCorp wildfire case heads to Oregon Supreme Court — https://wisevoter.com/world/us/or/2026/11/02/pacificorp-wildfire-case-oregon-supreme-court

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Wyoming Supreme Court clears Pronghorn H2 wind project to advance — https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/politics-government/2026-11-04/wyoming-supreme-court-allows-major-wind-turbine-project-to-advance
• Colorado Energy Office petitions PUC to expand standing on local power project denials — https://www.denvergazette.com/2026/11/09/state-energy-office-seeks-broader-puc-authority-on-local-power-denials/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, November 09, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Accepts SPP Western Cost Subregions, Effective Today — https://headwaterswire.com/2026/11/06/ferc-accepts-spp-tariff-creating-montana-rocky-mountain-transmission/
• DOE Orders Craig Unit 1 Available Through December 25 — Fourth Successive Order — https://boulder.thebadger.news/articles/2026-11-05-doe-craig-unit-1-availability-order-december-2026

Top Regional / State Developments

• Oregon Supreme Court Hears $1.25 Billion PacifiCorp Wildfire Appeal — https://www.litigationsentinel.com/article/pacificorp-wildfire-verdict-oregon-supreme-court
• Chelan PUD Postpones Rate Vote to November 16 — https://www.therealolympicherald.com/coverage/chelan-pud-postpones-utility-rate-vote-to-nov-16-following-public-feedback/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• BAAJA Permitting Bill Advances Toward Cloture — https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/big-win-for-us-energy-independence-trump-urges-senate-to-pass-2026-jobs-act-to-fast-track-energy-projects-cut-costs-protect-taxpayers

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• NRECA Conditionally Backs BAAJA, Seeks Local Governance Protections — https://www.electric.coop/nreca-backs-permitting-reform-bill-seeks-protections-for-local-governance

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, November 06, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• FERC Approves $544,000 in NERC Penalties, Including WECC Violations — https://www.rtoinsider.com/150400-ferc-approves-544k-nerc-penalties/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Colorado PUC Sets November 23 Hearing on Wildfire Power-Shutoff Rules — https://townreporter.org/articles/colorado-sets-nov-23-hearing-on-when-xcel-and-black-hills-can-cut-power
• Colorado Voters Reject Amendment 82 Constitutional Right to Natural Gas — https://www.kunc.org/politics/2026-11-05/colorado-voters-reject-effort-to-place-right-to-natural-gas-in-state-constitution
• Earthjustice Settlement Would Cut BPA Rate Hike by Nearly $40 Million — https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/settlement-requires-bonneville-power-administration-to-reduce-proposed-rate-hike-that-unfairly-targets-salmon-protection

Advocacy and Legal Signal Scan

• Consumer Watchdog Opposes Reported California Wildfire Liability Cap — https://fireandsafetyjournalamericas.com/wildfire-liability-cap-criticized/

Worth Knowing

• Three dozen business groups, including the Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric… — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/electric-utilities-join-industries-urging-renewal-of-cybersecurity-informat/873703/
• OpenAI has announced a Grid Protectors Program that would voluntarily reduce data-center electricity use… — https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/openai-introduces-program-to-reduce-ai-data-center-energy-demand-during-peak-hours-company-testing-grid-protectors-program-system-in-georgia

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Thursday, November 05, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• Democrats Take Both Chambers of Congress; Permitting, Tax Credits, and Data Center Policy Reshuffled — https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/permitting-reform-is-likely-move-for-democratic-controlled-us-congress/
• House Passes H.R. 9340 on Data Center Cost Recovery; Senate Action Stalled — https://mgrid.org/2026/11/05/house-passes-100-mw-data-center-cost-bill-leaving-final-rate-decisions-to-states/
• EO 14421 on Foreign Bulk Power Equipment: Implementing Rules Due December 24 — https://utilitydive.com/news/trump-ban-on-foreign-grid-components-sparks-industry-concern-over-practical/873752

Top Regional / State Developments

• Arizona Public Service Files 2026 IRP: Four Corners Coal to 2038, Plus 4,000 MW Gas and 2,500 MW Storage — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/aps-sales-double-by-2041-proposes-extending-coal-use-to-2038/873648/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Wednesday, November 04, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• PJM Cuts Data Center Backstop Target by Up to 90 Percent in Revised FERC Filing — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-revised-data-center-backstop-procurement-ferc/873551/
• Federal Register Notice Opens Comment Window on Chelan PUD Rock Island Power Sales Contracts — https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-22414/public-utility-district-no-1-of-chelan-county-washington-notice-of-applications-for-approval-of-contracts-for-the-sale-o
• Wyoming Signs FAST-41 MOU Covering Uranium and Infrastructure Permitting — https://www.ans.org/news/article-8551/wyoming-signs-mou-for-expedited-permitting-under-fast41/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Wyoming PSC Opens Formal Investigation Into Rocky Mountain Power's Industrial Customer Treatment — https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/11/03/rocky-mountain-power-bosses-fire-back-at-punitive-new-state-investigation/
• Montana PSC Postpones NorthWestern–Black Hills Merger Vote to Nov. 10 — https://www.kotatv.com/2026/11/03/montana-public-service-commission-postpones-vote-northwestern-energy-merger/
• Exelon Discloses Up to $8 Billion in Regulated Storage Buildout Tied to PJM Supply Crunch — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/exelon-energy-storage-new-jersey-earnings/873423/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Tuesday, November 03, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• CMS Energy Books $303 Million in Costs From DOE Emergency Order to Keep Campbell Coal Plant Running — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/cms-energy-ceo-predicts-data-center-progress-after-midterms/873057/
• NRC Completes Safety Review of X-energy Xe-100 Small Modular Reactor — https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/nrc-completes-safety-review-x-energys-small-modular-reactor

Top Regional / State Developments

• Montana PSC District 1 Race Decides Regulator Overseeing 1,100-MW Data Center Load — https://wearethefrontier.org/world/us/mt/2026/11/02/montana-psc-district-1-data-center-power
• Platte River Power Authority Drops 2030 Noncarbon Deadline, Keeps Long-Term Goal — https://northfortynews.com/category/news/platte-river-removes-2030-deadline-for-noncarbon-power-goal/
• Colorado PUC Opens Proceeding on Local Siting Appeals and Battery Storage Jurisdiction — https://eastern-plains.thebadger.news/articles/2026-10-31-colorado-puc-local-energy-siting-appeals-review
• Washington UTC Schedules Hearing on Cascade Natural Gas Multi-Year Rate Plan — https://www.cngc.com/washington-utc-sets-hearing-on-cascade-multi-year-rate-plan/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.

NWPPA Morning Brief — Monday, November 02, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• NRC Approves TerraPower Natrium Construction Permit at Kemmerer — https://www.ans.org/news/article-7818/nrc-approves-terrapower-construction-permit/
• DOE Opens $237 Million Grid Equipment Supply Chain Funding Round — https://infraday.com/2026/11/01/doe-237-million-grid-scaled-supply-chain-funding-2026/

Congressional and Federal Agency Scan

• BAAJA Permitting Bill Faces November 9 Cloture Vote — https://utilitydive.com/news/baaja-permitting-reform-interregional-transmission-harder/873041

Top Regional / State Developments

• Montana PSC Sets November 10 Vote on NorthWestern–Black Hills Merger — https://montanapolitics.org/montana-psc-sets-nov-10-vote-on-northwestern-black-hills-merger/
• CPUC Orders California IOUs to Build Common DER Framework — https://shasta.sidekick.news/articles/cpuc-utilities-common-distributed-energy-framework-2026-10-30
• Avista Files Four-Year Multi-Year Rate Plan With Washington UTC — https://www.khq.com/news/avista-asks-for-4-year-rate-plan-with-2027-power-and-gas-increases/article_65aaf814-defd-444b-8575-3489f3dc336f.html
• Oregon PUC Approves Avista Purchased Gas Adjustment — https://flashalert.net/id/PUC
• Warm Springs Tribes and PGE Sign $850 Million Salmonfly Build-Transfer Agreement — https://www.madrasbulletin.com/confederated-tribes-of-warm-springs-partner-on-850-million-solar-storage-project/
• Edison International Warns Wildfire Reform Delay Will Add $300 Million to Customer Bond Costs — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/wildfire-reform-sce-edison-international-earnings/873322/

Western Federal Power Programs Scan

• BPA Plans Expedited BP-27R Rate Case and TC-27R Tariff Proceeding — https://samsearch.co/government-contracting-news/bpa-plans-expedited-2026-rate-and-transmission-tariff-proceedings-237593

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

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NWPPA Morning Brief — Friday, October 30, 2026

In today's brief:

Top Federal Developments

• DOE Seeks Full-Court Rehearing on Coal Plant Emergency Order Ruling; Craig Station Cases Frozen — https://rockymountainvoice.com/2026/10/28/craig-coal-plant-3-colorado-cases-freeze-while-doe-seeks-a-rehearing/
• NRC and FERC Commissioners Hold Joint Meeting on Nuclear and Grid Reliability — https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-23/article-8516/nrc-hosts-ferc-for-joint-meeting-on-nuclear-generation-grid-reliability/
• PJM Asks FERC to Dismiss Mon Power's $145 Million Winter Storm Cost Complaint — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/pjm-ferc-mon-power-winter-storm-fern-complaint/872855/

Top Regional / State Developments

• Pacific Power Reaches Oregon Rate Case Settlement for 2027 — https://ktvz.com/news/business/2026/10/29/pacific-power-expects-residential-rates-to-barely-budge-in-2027-commercial-industrial-rates-would-fall-6-5/

Worth Knowing

• BloombergNEF raised its U.S. energy storage deployment forecast by 30 percent, now projecting 213.9 GW of… — https://www.utilitydive.com/news/bnef-ups-us-energy-storage-deployment-forecast-by-30/872870/
• American Electric Power increased its five-year capital plan 30 percent to $100 billion, with $20 billion for… — https://utilitydive.com/news/aep-transmission-data-center-earnings/873189/

Pilot notice: AI-generated daily briefing. Verify before acting on it.

Feel free to reach out if you have comments or concerns.