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AEP’s contracted large-load pipeline doubled to 56 GW overall; its Texas data…

Brief

Utility-sector headlines: AEP’s contracted large-load pipeline surged to 56 GW (Texas data-center pipeline 36 GW by December vs. 13 GW in Q3), while Exelon is planning $41.3B in capital spending with $12–17B more in transmission ‘line of sight.’ Treasury issued interim FEOC/MACR guidance and GAO warned DOE lacks an oversight plan for ~$21.5B in IIJA demonstration funds.

Why it matters

AEP’s contracted large-load pipeline doubled to 56 GW overall; its Texas data center pipeline jumped to 36 GW by the end of December (from 13 GW in Q3).

Key details

  • Exelon’s capital plan is $41.3 billion driven by transmission, and the company has a ‘line of sight’ on an additional $12–17 billion of transmission buildout over the next 10 years.
  • Treasury issued interim FEOC guidance clarifying how to calculate a project’s material assistance cost ratio (MACR) and thresholds; separately, the GAO said DOE ‘does not have a plan’ to oversee roughly $21.5 billion in IIJA clean energy demonstration no‑year funds.
Cleaned source text

title: Feb. 13 - FEOC, finally! | AEP’s contracted large load doubles

author: Utility Dive

content_type: newsletter

publication: divenewsletter.com

published: 2026-02-13T12:58:06-05:00

source_url: gmail://19c582748fb60b93

word_count: 1147

Daily Dive

Feb. ​ 13,​ 2026 | Today’s news and insights for utility leaders

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NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

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Meris Lutz

Senior Editor, Utility Dive

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Treasury issues FEOC guidance, clarifies material assistance cost ratio

The notice offers interim safe harbor guidance for calculating a project or component’s material assistance cost ratio, or MACR, and provides relevant MACR thresholds.

AEP contracted large load pipeline doubles to 56 GW

American Electric Power’s data center pipeline in Texas surged to 36 GW by the end of December, from 13 GW in the third quarter.

Transmission drives Exelon’s capital spending plan to $41.3B

Exelon has a “line of sight” on $12 billion to $17 billion of transmission buildout over the next 10 years that isn’t included in its current capital plan, a company official said.

AI’s power surge: 5 ways AI could make the grid more reliable, efficient and flexible

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DOE ‘does not have a plan’ for oversight of billions in energy funds: GAO

Since the IIJA appropriated about $21.5 billion of “no-year appropriations” for clean energy demonstration projects, DOE will “have an ongoing need to solicit and review applications for additional projects,” the U.S. Government Accountability Office said.

Data centers pursue on-site power as affordability tops utility concerns: BofA

Hyperscalers are looking to secure power fast, “firm and smooth with storage, then layer in solar as the lowest-cost marginal energy,” wrote Bank of America Securities analyst Dimple Gosai.

CISA seeks critical infrastructure sector input on cyber-incident reporting rule

CISA announced a series of town hall meetings with affected industries about the pending rule. The one for the energy and nuclear sectors is scheduled for March 9.

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