New standards and registration requirements may affect data centers and the cooperatives that serve them.
SUMMARY
NERC is moving forward with a new reliability framework for large “computational loads,” including data centers and other power-intensive computing facilities. On October 26, 2026, NERC’s Board of Trustees adopted the first phase of new Reliability Standards addressing how these facilities are planned, modeled, interconnected, monitored, and coordinated with grid operators.
NERC has also proposed new Computational Load Owner and Computational Load Operator registration functions. The proposed framework is particularly relevant to certain computational load sites of 50 MW or more connected at 100 kV or higher. FERC approval remains pending, so the standards and registration changes are not yet enforceable in the United States.
THIS MAY APPLY TO YOU IF…
- You own or operate a large data center or other computational load.
- Your cooperative currently serves, or is planning to serve, a large data center.
- You are involved in planning, interconnecting, operating, protecting, or monitoring a large computational load.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?
- Data centers may face direct NERC registration and reliability obligations involving modeling, operating information, communications, commissioning, protection coordination, and performance monitoring.
- A cooperative will not necessarily become a Computational Load Owner or Operator simply because it supplies the facility. Its responsibilities will depend on its existing NERC registration and its role in planning, interconnection, and grid operations.
- Both parties should clearly identify who owns the load, who operates it, how it is interconnected, and which entity will be responsible for each applicable requirement.
ACTION ITEMS & TIMELINE
- Begin screening existing and proposed projects against the proposed 50 MW and 100 kV registration criteria.
- Review modeling data, communications, commissioning procedures, protection coordination, monitoring, and the allocation of responsibilities between the data center and serving utility.
