State Policy

Across the country, state leaders are confronting a new reality: electricity demand is rising at an alarming rate, reliability concerns are growing, and cost pressures are hitting consumers from all angles. On our blog, United’s Trish Demeter recounts lessons learned from Advanced Energy United’s webinar, How States Are Turning to Advanced Energy to Lower Costs, which convened state leaders and industry experts as they discussed how advanced energy technologies, both grid-scale and distributed, are providing the affordability solutions that state legislators are searching for.

Utility Dive reports that the Pennsylvania House unanimously passed a bill (HB 2233) that requires the state’s utilities to study the potential for advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) when proposing to upgrade existing transmission projects or build new ones. United’s Chris D’Agostino applauded the passage of the bill, highlighting ATTs as a no-regrets, near-term solution to Pennsylvania’s growing affordability and reliability challenges.

On January 14, 2026, the Virginia General Assembly launched its 60-day legislative session, with energy affordability among the top three issues for the General Assembly. As a result, many of the energy policies that came out of the 2026 General Assembly focused on ways to lower the average cost of electricity. On our blog, United’s Jim Purekal outlines Advanced Energy United’s proactive legislative strategy that delivered pivotal wins for the clean energy industry by providing lawmakers with the energy affordability solutions they were looking for.

Michigan Advance reports that the Michigan House of Representatives will now consider two bills (House Bill 5710 and House Bill 5711) rolling back the state’s recently imposed clean energy mandate laws, which included a goal of a 100% clean energy standard. United’s Samarth Medakkar called on the legislature to reject both bills, urging state leaders to continue deploying more homegrown, local energy resources to lower costs and meet growing demand.

In an op-ed for the Santa Fe New Mexican, United’s Michael Barrio makes the case for more high-efficiency electric appliances, such as heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, to keep New Mexico households cool as higher temperatures strain the grid. He also encourages state lawmakers to expand policies and utility programs that reward customers for shifting some electricity uses away from peak hours to create a more affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy system statewide.

Factor This reports that Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s amended version of the Facilitating Access to Surplus Transmission (FAST) Act was accepted by the Commonwealth’s General Assemby, establishing a first-of-its-kind program that will tap into unused capacity at existing generation sites. United’s Jim Purekal highlighted the benefits of the bill in making smarter use of existing infrastructure, speeding up clean energy deployment, and increasing affordability for consumers.

As electricity prices skyrocket, outpacing the inflation rate, Advanced Energy United continues to meet with state leaders to talk about the practical advanced energy solutions that can lower costs, bolster grid reliability, and increase speed to power. On our blog, United’s Emma Heins highlights our recent engagement with Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate and Former Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes and his team, where we discussed strategies for achieving these goals using our 2026 Wisconsin Policy Roadmap as a guide.

E&E News reports that Colorado lawmakers recently passed the Colorado Grid Optimization Act (HB 1081) with bipartisan majorities that will require major utilities to consider advanced transmission technologies (ATTs) as part of their long-range planning documents. United’s Emilie Olson spoke to the benefits of the bill in maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, lowering electricity costs, and increasing grid reliability. The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk for signature into law.

Utility Dive reports that Colorado lawmakers have passed House Bill 1081 on a bipartisan vote. The bill requires regulated utilities to consider using “advanced transmission technologies” that could improve the efficiency of the existing grid. The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk for signature into law. United’s Emilie Olson spoke to the benefits of the bill in maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, lowering electricity costs, and increasing grid reliability.

Utility Dive reports that California legislators have advanced Senate Bill 913, which would update state resource adequacy rules to allow aggregated distributed energy resources (DERs) like stationary residential batteries and electric vehicles to qualify as resource adequacy capacity. United’s Brandon García stated that the bill recognizes the substantial role DERs play in the state’s energy system and their potential to mitigate rising infrastructure costs.

Michigan Public Radio reports that state utility regulators have warned Consumers Energy that it must start modeling the use of virtual power plants (VPPs) in its plans — or risk having some rate increases denied. United’s John Albers spoke to the benefits of VPPs in lowering energy costs, increasing reliability, and maximizing the use of existing infrastructure, pointing to examples of other states that have already implemented VPP programs.

Coloradans are moving fast to electrify their homes, vehicles, and businesses, but the state’s antiquated electric grid wasn’t built to accommodate the growing need. VPPs provide a solution, and in our latest blog post, United’s Brian Turner and Emilie Olson explain United’s role in getting key VPP legislation passed in 2024 and later implemented into a functioning program, the Aggregator Virtual Power Plant (AVPP) program, which creates a scalable, competitive framework that enables providers to quickly begin delivering value to ratepayers and the grid.