T&D Grid

“A major utility serving a mix of these customers is no longer diversified at scale even though it serves AI operators in multiple jurisdictions. It is exposed to a single wager held by a tiny club of whales.”

“A recent report from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council offers a starting point for regulators evaluating options to strengthen their states’ interconnection procedures.”

“By leveraging load flexibility, utilities can unlock additional capacity rapidly and at lower cost relative to generation and T&D buildout – but this resource has been underutilized to date.”

“The bottleneck is organizational: The absence of shared definitions, common standards, and distributed governance over what gets measured, how it gets validated, and what obligations come with participation in a collective intelligence effort.”

“Line school was a big part of getting over that fear. It’s repetition and taking one step at a time. Climbing a pole for the first time was scary, but you get on a pole and say, ‘Okay, one more step.’”

“Safety has got to be our first priority. It’s my responsibility to look out for all the guys I’m working with and vice versa. Everyone’s responsible for each other’s safety and speaking up about it is of the utmost importance.”

“A lot of our projects are rebuilding lines at higher voltage, bigger wire, and sometimes multiple bundle conductors where traditionally it’s been single conductors. They’re building up to handle all the growth.”

“A good line crew working is almost like watching a ballet, particularly when you have a couple of men on a pole climbing and working together. You anticipate each other’s moves.”

In celebration of National Lineworker Appreciation Day, PUF’s Paul Kjellander speaks with former lineman Rich Walje, and Idaho Power lineworkers Jesse Allen, Kyle Bligh, and Isaiah Krohn.

“NARUC and NASEO, in conjunction with 25 state agencies, have collaborated since early 2025 to develop comprehensive electricity planning roadmaps through a series of virtual and in-person workshops.”