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Microsoft and Avangrid Sign PPA for Bluebird Solar Project in Washington State

LCG, May 27, 2026--Avangrid, Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, today announced the signing of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Microsoft for the 140 MWdc (100 MWac) Bluebird Solar project in Klickitat County, Washington. Bluebird is located near four other energy projects owned and operated by Avangrid in Klickitat County and represents another $300 million investment in the community. The Bluebird Solar project is expected to achieve commercial operation in 2028.

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ERCOT Summer 2026: What’s Driving the Next Wave of Market Risk?

LCG, May 27, 2026--ERCOT enters Summer 2026 with healthy near-term reserve margins, but rapidly growing data center demand, persistent West Texas congestion, and the rollout of RTC+B are reshaping market dynamics faster than ever.

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Industry News

CA Regulators to Vote Today on Rate Hike Revenue

LCG, October 24, 2002-The CPUC will vote today on whether or not to allow California utilities to use rate hike money for purposes other than buying electricity.

Last year the California Public Utilities Commission permitted Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric utility to increase their retail electricity rates by a total of $0.04 per kilowatt-hour in order that the utilities meet some of their debt payments. In January last year, the CPUC allowed a one cent increase, and in March of last year, an additional three-cent increase was allowed, after which Pacific Gas & Electric utility declared bankruptcy.

The CPUC passed these "overcollections" because the mandated price of retail power was not high enough during the energy crisis of 2000/2001 to cover the cost of wholesale power, and the utilities were having trouble staying out of the red.

CPUC President Loretta Lynch came out with a proposal to allow the utilities to do whatever was needed with the revenue from the two rate hikes; currently the utilities must use overcollections to purchase power. The spot price of wholesale power has been below retail rates for over a year, and Lynch's proposal is intended to allow some of the revenue from overcollections to be used to restore the utilities' financial health.

The utilities clearly support the plan, which offers them more freedom to spend ratepayers' money where it is needed. Consumer advocates, however, such as those from the Utility Reform Network, call it the "it's our surcharge and we'll do what we please with it" decision.

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