Utility Industry Stories We're Tracking - February 24, 2025

Another week, another set of fascinating and impactful stories to track.

Are you reading these stories? Do you have other topics at the forefront of your mind? Tell me about them!

Theme 1: Energy data and statistics being crucial

Europe needs better energy statistics to support decision-making

IEA likely to restore current policies scenario in energy forecasts [Paywall, Bloomberg]

Theme 2: Tides shifting and additional stakeholders pulling back on decarb goals

BP will reportedly drop its renewable power goals and redouble efforts to produce fossil fuels [Paywall, Reuters]

Tech companies including Meta and Microsoft are increasingly abandoning their renewable power goals to build gas plants that will power expanding data centers

Theme 3: What matters most to utility-customer relations—the bill

Electricity rates set to drastically rise in 2025 for thousands of Stark customers

Xcel is changing when it charges more for peak-time energy use

Theme 4: Tracking big picture Trump energy policy progress

Trump pauses implementation of new DOE appliance efficiency standards

The General Services Administration, which manages federal buildings, says it will shut down the 8,000 electric vehicle chargers it operates across the country

The Trump administration has begun the process of attempting to revoke California’s authority to set its own vehicle emissions standards, which Massachusetts and several other Northeast states have also adopted