Data centers need massive amounts of electricity very often enough to power a small city. Before they can build, developers must secure formal agreements with utility companies and typically need billions in grid upgrades: new substations, transmission lines, and power generation. These applications go through Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), which hold public hearings and allow community intervention.
This is where communities can fight back through formal channels. PUCs must evaluate who pays for grid upgrades and how the data center affects everyone’s electricity bills and grid reliability. Communities have successfully stopped or delayed projects by filing PUC interventions, hiring independent engineers to challenge flawed studies, and exposing attempts to shift infrastructure costs onto regular ratepayers.
The power gateway creates real leverage. Developers need fast approvals and interconnection queues in some regions have multiple year backlogs. Public opposition, technical challenges to weak engineering studies, and coalitions with consumer advocates and local businesses can force regulators to take a harder look at these projects.
Key Targets (Gatekeepers)
- Utility company executives and boards: Decision-makers on interconnection approvals and grid upgrades
- Public Utility Commission officials: State regulators overseeing utility decisions and rate impacts
- Independent System Operators (ISOs/RTOs): Regional grid coordinators managing interconnection queues
- State energy regulators: Policy-makers setting grid planning and cost allocation rules
- Grid engineers and technical experts: Professionals conducting load studies and impact assessments
Possible Interventions
- Challenge Grid Impact Studies: File technical critiques of developer load studies showing inadequate analysis of cascading impacts on grid stability
- Expose Rate Increase Projections: Commission independent analysis of ratepayer cost impacts and demand public hearings on cost allocation
- Demand Community Cost Hearings: Require utility to hold public hearings on who pays for grid upgrades and ratepayer impacts
- Technical Review of Agreements: Engage grid engineers to identify flaws in interconnection agreements and grid upgrade plans
- Ratepayer Coalition Building: Unite consumer advocates, fixed-income residents, and businesses around shared grid cost concerns
Gateway Intervention
Campaign Playbook
Each campaign will have it’s own unique challenges and context. We are here to help talk through steps. The steps in this guide are informed by community victories so we aren’t reinventing the wheel. Contact us to talk about your campaign.
1. Early Intervention:
Request copies of all interconnection studies and agreements. Engage independent grid engineers to review load impact. File formal intervention petitions with PUC. Demand extended public comment periods.
2. Technical Challenge:
Commission independent grid stability analysis. File detailed technical comments on inadequacies. Present expert testimony at PUC hearings. Challenge cost allocation methodology.
3. Public Pressure Campaign:
Organize ratepayer coalition and petition drive. Generate media coverage of rate increase projections. Pack PUC public hearings with testimony. Coordinate with state legislators on grid policy.
Valuable Allies
You don’t need to take on bad data centers alone. There are organizations and experts who can help. Explore the directory to find other leaders, and discover organizations in the Alliance Map.
Utility Law Attorneys: Navigate PUC procedures and file formal interventions
Grid Engineers: Provide credible technical critiques of load studies
Consumer Advocates: Champion ratepayer interests in cost allocation
Energy Economists: Quantify rate impacts and alternative cost scenarios
Environmental Justice Groups: Highlight disproportionate impacts on vulnerable communities
Gateway 2: Power & Utility Interconnection
Resources & Documents
Essential tools and resource for this gateway.
