Wholesale electricity costs have risen much faster than consumer rates since 2020, with the gap driven by widening transmission congestion in several major grid regions. At the same time, California’s wholesale prices are flat or down in 2025 despite gas volatility, suggesting that transmission and market design—not just fuel—are increasingly determining price outcomes.
— If congestion now drives price divergence, policy focus must shift to permitting and building transmission to tap cheaper generation and stabilize bills.
by Monica Samayoa, Oregon Public Broadcasting
2025.10.08
70% relevant
Oregon’s fast‑track order is unlikely to deliver many projects because 'the federal government’s sluggish pace of adding transmission capacity' is the binding constraint; this mirrors the broader thesis that transmission—not generation—now governs outcomes and costs.
msmash
2025.10.03
55% relevant
Both this article and the idea highlight that outcomes in electricity systems hinge on grids and system design, not just generation. Here, ENTSO‑E flags a cascading‑voltage blackout and Spain’s low grid‑to‑renewables spend (0.3:1 vs EU 0.7:1), complementing the idea that transmission constraints shape system performance (prices there, reliability here).
msmash
2025.09.19
100% relevant
Analysis of LMP data across 17 hubs shows larger congestion spreads in PJM, SPP, and NYISO, while CAISO is an outlier with flat/declining wholesale prices.