This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission on Friday unanimously approved the $6.2 billion sale of Allete to the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Blackrock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, finding the benefits of the deal to ratepayers outweighed the risks of private equity ownership. “It's pretty clear that because of the collective work of th ...

Group 1 - The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) is recognized as one of the Best Dividend Stocks and is included in the Dividend Champions List [1][2] - The company operates electric and gas utilities, as well as providing fiber-optic and wireless communication services, serving over 9 million customers in the Southeast [2] - Southern Company has a significant presence in nuclear energy, managing eight reactors across three facilities, including the recently launched Vogtle Units 3 and 4, marking the first new commercial reactors in the US in about thirty years [3] Group 2 - Utility stocks, including Southern Company, are generally viewed as stable investments due to consistent energy demand and regulatory frameworks that stabilize prices and support infrastructure investment [4] - Southern Company has a strong track record with 24 consecutive years of dividend increases and has paid dividends without interruption for 78 years, with a current quarterly dividend of $0.74 per share and a dividend yield of 3.15% as of October 2 [4]

PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is one of the best stocks to buy under $20. On September 29, PG&E Corporation announced a plan to spend $73 billion by 2030 on transmission upgrades. This major investment is intended to address the surge in electricity demand, primarily driven by data centers and the increased adoption of artificial intelligence. The California-based company is working to serve 10GW of new electricity demand from data center projects over the next ten years. The surge in power consumption is e ...

Core Insights - American Electric Power (AEP) is a significant entity in the energy sector, focusing on sustainable energy solutions and infrastructure improvements [1] - AEP is competing with major players like Duke Energy and NextEra Energy to maintain its market position [1] Financial Transactions - On October 2, 2025, Ferneau Kelly J, Executive Vice President of AEP, sold 1,006 shares at $112 each, retaining 5,676 shares [2] - Insider transactions can indicate varying levels of confidence regarding the company's future performance [2] Investment Strategy - AEP plans to invest $54 billion in upgrades and renewable projects by 2029, aiming for long-term earnings growth of 6-8% [2][3] - This investment aligns with global sustainability trends [3] Stock Performance - The current stock price of AEP is $114.69, reflecting a 1.08% increase, with a daily fluctuation between $113.34 and $114.77 [3] - Over the past year, AEP's stock has experienced volatility, ranging from a low of $89.91 to a high of $115.36 [4] - AEP's market capitalization is approximately $61.33 billion, indicating its substantial presence in the energy sector [4] - Today's trading volume is 750,829 shares, suggesting active investor interest [4]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota regulators voted unanimously Friday to approve an investment group's takeover of a power company over the objections of the state attorney general, big industrial electricity buyers and consumer advocates. In voting for the takeover of Duluth-based Minnesota, the five members of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission said they believe the conditions imposed on the deal will protect the public interest and shield customers from rate increases. Opponents warned that the priva ...

Core Insights - A new substation in Morgan County, West Virginia, is enhancing power reliability for nearly 2,000 customers served by Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp [1] Company Impact - The project aims to reduce outages for approximately 1,900 residents and businesses in West Virginia and Maryland [1]

Minnesota power regulators on Friday approved a $6.2 billion plan for a BlackRock unit and Canada Pension Plan to buy utility Allete, parent of Minnesota Power, saying recent modifications by the parties should address concerns about rates and clean-power investments. ...

Allete (NYSE:ALE) edged higher by 0.7% after the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission approved its planned sale to a partnership led by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and BlackRock's (BLK) Global Infrastructure Partners.The Minnesota PUC commissioners' approved the transaction unanimously in a vote on Friday. CPP Investments and GIP announced in May 2024 that they would acquire Allete (NYSE:ALE) for $67/share in cash, or $6.2B including debt. ...

Core Insights - American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) is investing in infrastructure upgrades and expanding its renewable generation portfolio to enhance operational reliability and meet increasing customer demand [1][2] Investment Plans - AEP plans to allocate $54 billion towards electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, including renewable projects, from 2025 to 2029, aiming for a long-term earnings growth rate of 6-8% [2][8] - The company intends to invest approximately $34 billion in its transmission and distribution operations during the same period to build a more resilient grid [3] Renewable Energy Initiatives - In Q2 2025, AEP invested $1.4 billion to acquire three power plants, including solar and wind facilities, and secured approvals for 1,979 megawatts (MW) of renewable generation assets through $4.7 billion in investments [4][8] - AEP plans to allocate $9.9 billion towards regulated renewable growth between 2025 and 2029, significantly expanding its renewable generation portfolio [4] Operational Challenges - As of June 30, 2025, AEP reported a generating capacity of 24,400 MW, with 10,700 MW from coal-fired plants, and is assessing the impact of new Environmental Protection Agency regulations on its operations [5] - The company has $41.31 billion in long-term debt and $0.23 billion in cash equivalents, indicating a relatively weak solvency position [6][8] Stock Performance - AEP shares have increased by 13.1% over the past year, outperforming the industry growth of 8.3% [7]

Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers. Valued at a market cap of $162 billion, the company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear, natural gas, and other clean energy sources. It is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 earnings for 2025 on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Before this event, analysts expect this utility company to report a profit of $1.04 per share, up 1% from $1.03 per share in the ye ...