Brattle Report Highlights Value of Regional Grid Investments — Long-term Regional Planning Offers Billions in Savings and Greater Reliability to Support Growing Southeast Economy
April 2, 2025 – A new study from The Brattle Group, with support from the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA), the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA), and the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), reveals that the Southeast must modernize its approach to investing in its regional power grid infrastructure to support economic growth, energy affordability, and long-term resilience.
The report highlights that, while electricity demand in the Southeast is soaring due to new manufacturing, data centers, and population growth, the region is the only major U.S. market that has not approved a single regional transmission project in recent history. Instead Southeast transmission planning is limited to identifying upgrades within each individual utility company, foregoing the opportunity to identify more beneficial regional solutions.
As a result, businesses and families are paying higher energy costs while facing greater risks of blackouts that cause significant economic damages that we have seen in extreme weather events like Winter Storms Elliott and Uri. More holistic regional planning can address both issues. Moving forward, the Southeast utilities can leverage best practices from across the industry for identifying high-value regional upgrades to support load growth and efficiently add new generation resources across the region.
Key Findings from The Brattle Group Report:
🔹 Power Demand Surge – By 2035, electricity demand in the Southeast is projected to grow by 20 gigawatts (GW), a 25% increase, equivalent to adding twice the power demand of New York City in just 10 years.
🔹 Cost Savings from Regional Transmission – Investing $5 billion in new regional transmission projects would generate over $8 billion in savings for customers, cutting electricity costs and improving grid reliability.
🔹 Grid Reliability at Risk – Extreme weather events—winter storms, hurricanes, and heat waves—are placing greater stress on the grid, yet utilities continue planning transmission in isolation rather than coordinating on cost-effective regional solutions.
🔹 The Southeast Lags Behind Other Regions – The Southeast remains the only major U.S. region that has not approved a regional transmission project, while other markets have strategically invested billions to strengthen their grids and are reaping those savings.
The report follows the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) Order No. 1920, which created a process to modernize long-term transmission planning. Undertaking meaningful long-term transmission planning presents a major opportunity for the Southeast to shift away from a reactive, near-term, siloed approach to grid investment and adopt best-in-class regional planning that yields higher benefits.
Executive Summary: Modernizing Southeast Grid Investments: How Enhanced Regional Transmission Planning Supports a Growing Economy
Full Report: SERTP Regional Planning Report
Business & Energy Leaders Call for Action
Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA):
“The business community—Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, data centers—understands that an outdated power grid is a business risk,” said Katie Southworth at CEBA. “The Southeast has the opportunity to unlock billions in cost savings, increase grid resilience, and support clean energy growth. Failing to modernize our transmission planning means businesses will look elsewhere to invest.”
Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA):
“The Southeast needs to build a grid that matches its growing economy,” said Simon Mahan, Executive Director of SREA. “Manufacturers and data centers are bringing jobs to the region, but without a modern transmission system, we risk higher energy prices, power shortages, and lost economic opportunities. The utilities can’t keep just patching up local lines—regional investment is the only way forward.”
Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA):
“Businesses want access to reliable, affordable power, but the Southeast transmission planning process needs to improve to make that happen efficiently,” said Chris Carmody, Executive Director of CCEBA. “Other regions are making smart grid investments that lower costs and improve reliability. We should update our process and widen our focus. Now is the time for state regulators and utilities to act so that we can build a more competitive, and resilient, energy future.”
The Brattle Group: Independent Analysis and Recommendations
As a leading economic consulting firm that works with utilities, regulators, and policymakers, The Brattle Group does not advocate for specific policy changes. However, the firm’s analysis underscores the economic and reliability benefits of a regional transmission strategy that aligns with industry best practices.
“Our research found that investing in regional transmission upgrades in the Southeast would deliver significant cost savings and reliability improvements,” said Michael Hagerty Principal, at The Brattle Group. “While the Southeast planning entity and utilities in the region are evaluating transmission investments, a more coordinated regional and interregional approach would maximize efficiency and reduce electricity costs for customers. Improved regional planning that utilizes a comprehensive set of benefit metrics and studies multiple future scenarios is a critical new tool for the Southeast to embrace for efficiently investing in its future grid.”
The Bottom Line
The Southeast must move beyond outdated, siloed planning and nearly all generation resources require transmission. Energy isn’t consumed where it’s generated—it must move freely to where and when it’s needed. Building a bigger grid to capture a generational economic opportunity requires more cost-efficient transmission. Without modern infrastructure, the region risks higher costs, increased blackouts, and lost economic opportunities. Regulators and utilities must step up and take a regional approach to transmission planning to protect consumers and strengthen the economy.
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About The Brattle Group
The Brattle Group is a leading economic consulting firm that provides expert analysis on energy markets, infrastructure investments, and regulatory frameworks. The firm’s independent research helps utilities, policymakers, and advocacy organizations make data-driven decisions for a more reliable and cost-effective power system.
About the Sponsoring Organizations
🔹 Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) – A coalition of 400+ businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, committed to advancing low-cost, reliable clean energy solutions. cebuyers.org
🔹 Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) – For more than a decade, the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) has been committed to promoting the responsible use and development of wind energy, solar energy, and transmission solutions across seven Southeastern states. Our mission is centered on fostering sustainable practices and driving innovative advancements in renewable energy. As an industry-driven initiative, SREA serves Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Discover more at southernrenewable.org.
🔹 Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA) – An association of independent power producers, suppliers, and customers committed to expanding private sector market access in the Carolinas.www.carolinasceba.com
Media Contacts:
- Regional/State/National Contact: Claire Douglass, New Fundamental, [email protected], 303-641-1593
- North and South Carolina Contact: Travis Fain, CCEBA, [email protected], (919) 630-9296
- Georgia Contact: Sarah Jenkins, Sachs Media, [email protected], (813) 787-1036
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