Phoenix, Ariz. — At the Arizona Corporation Commission’s November 19, 2025, regular open meeting, the Commission voted 5-0 to intervene in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Docket No. RM26-4-000 Interconnection of Large Loads to the Interstate Transmission System. After a lengthy discussion, the Commission voted to intervene in the FERC docket without stating a position at this time for the purpose of preserving its right to file a brief at a future date.    

On October 23, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a rare Section 403 directive requesting FERC initiate rulemaking procedures and consider DOE’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) related to “Ensuring the Timely and Orderly Interconnection of Large Loads.” The directive included a set of fourteen principles DOE believes should inform FERC’s rulemaking procedures.

The Secretary’s letter requires FERC to consider the proposal and take final action by April 30, 2026. FERC extended the deadline to submit initial comments on the proposed ANOPR to November 21, 2025, with reply comments due on or before December 5, 2025. As of November 20, 2025, ten other state utility commissions have filed to intervene.

“I agree with the Secretary that to usher in ‘a new era of American prosperity,’ all Americans and domestic industries must have access to affordable, reliable, and secure electricity,” stated Vice Chair Nick Myers. “I further agree with the expressed policy priorities of ensuring timely, orderly, and non-discriminatory interconnection of large loads to the transmission system, including AI data centers. At the same time, I believe it is critical that FERC work closely with the States and state regulators to ensure rules resulting from this proposal affirm state authority and do not inadvertently create challenges to resource adequacy, reliability, and affordability.”

“We appreciate the Administration’s desires to address longstanding grid connection queue lags for large loads while prioritizing reliability and affordability,” said Chairman Kevin Thompson. “FERC has traditionally not asserted authority over matters involving load interconnection, and so as this process unfolds, it’s important for the Commission to represent Arizona’s voice and preserve our authority over large loads connecting to our grid. We share the goals of serving large industry and promoting growth in a manner that does not impact reliability or come at the financial expense of residential and small business ratepayers.”

For more information, please contact Chair Thompson at thompson-web@azcc.gov or Vice Chair Myers at myers-web@azcc.gov.