FERC Issues Historic Show Cause Orders to All Six US Regional Grid Operators to Fast-Track AI Data Center Grid Connections

FERC issued tailored show cause orders under Section 206 of the Federal Power Act to all six US regional grid operators—PJM, MISO, SPP, CAISO, ISO-NE, and NYISO—requiring each to justify current tariffs or propose reforms within 60 days to speed large electricity load connections for data centers and manufacturing operations. The orders propose five reform categories: faster interconnection study processes, transparent transmission cost allocation, co-location rules pairing data centers with generation, flexible load services, and adoption of alternative transmission technologies. FERC explicitly framed the action around the US goal to 'lead the global AI race,' treating AI compute expansion as a national infrastructure priority requiring regulatory urgency.