What happens when a manufacturer or data center finds a site but cannot get connected to the grid for five or six years? Rob Gramlich, president of Grid Strategies, joins Justin Smith to explain why electric demand caught utilities off guard, what is slowing new connections, and how power is becoming part of industrial site selection.

We discuss rising utility bills, the culture clash between fast-moving tech firms and reliability-focused utilities, the race for AI power, regional differences from Northern Virginia to Texas and Ohio, and practical ways to get more out of the grid we already have. Rob also explains the three Ps of transmission (planning, permitting and paying) and why a willingness to pay for a project does not make the cost-sharing decision simple.

Key Takeaways

• Utilities are telling some large new customers they cannot connect them for five or six years. Grid capacity, not land, now sets many start dates.
• The five-year U.S. load growth forecast rose from 2.6% to 4.7% in a single year (Grid Strategies, December 2023).
• Rising bills have many causes: new demand, expensive equipment, rebuilding after wildfires and storms, and replacing aging equipment.
• Big loads chase grid capacity, then move on once it is used up.
• Wind-cooled lines, smarter charging and batteries can all get more out of the existing grid.
• For power-intensive site searches, bring grid expertise onto the site selection team early.

Recorded September 30, 2026. Later that day, the Senate released the bipartisan permitting bill Rob mentions, the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026. Rob had not reviewed the bill text on air.

Watch the full conversation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7I6DC9lJzU

Guest: Rob Gramlich, President, Grid Strategies
Host: Justin Smith, SIOR, Lee & Associates Irvine