Utah and Indiana advance grid modernization with ATT laws
Utah and Indiana have passed bipartisan laws to boost grid capacity using advanced transmission tech, cutting costs, easing congestion, and meeting rising energy demand.
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USA, Utah / Indiana: To keep up with soaring electricity demand fueled by population growth, data centers, and industrial expansion, states are turning to rapid, practical solutions. Among them are advanced transmission technologies (ATTs), which upgrade existing power lines to carry more electricity, improving grid reliability without the delays of new infrastructure.
In 2025, Utah and Indiana joined the wave of states embracing ATTs, each passing bipartisan laws with unanimous support from lawmakers and diverse stakeholders, including utilities, clean energy groups, and manufacturers.
ATTs include tools like dynamic line ratings – sensors that monitor real-time conditions to optimize power flow – and advanced conductors, which can carry up to twice as much electricity as traditional wires. These upgrades are quicker and more cost-effective than building new high-voltage lines, which can take up to a decade.
Utah’s new law, signed on 25 March 2025 by Governor Spencer Cox, requires utilities to assess ATT deployment in planning and allows cost recovery if investments prove economical. Indiana followed on 31 March 2025, with Governor Mike Braun approving a bill mandating utilities to evaluate ATTs and commissioning a statewide benefits study.
These actions reflect increasing urgency to address grid congestion and energy project backlogs. By advancing ATTs, states like Utah and Indiana are unlocking immediate capacity and setting examples for others.
With at least 10 states passing similar laws recently, momentum is building toward a smarter, more flexible electric grid, faster and more affordably than ever before.
Source: Pew
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