Data Center Integration in Transmission & Distribution Systems

Active Committees/Task Forces of Interest

• IEEE PES Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Committee</br/>
  Chair: Julio Romero Agüero,

Below are Subcommittees, Working Groups, and Task Forces under the T&D Committee working on the topic:

• • Transmission Subcommittee:
    Chair: Michael Perez,
    • Task Force on Datacenter Interaction with Transmission Systems. This Taskforce aims to identify the operational challenges and opportunities of integrating large-scale data centers into transmission and distribution (T&D) systems, and to develop a standardized framework document for their modeling, control, and integration.
    • Working Group on Transmission Reliability Impacts of Inverter-Based Resources. Challenges to reliability on the Bulk Electric System (BES) posed by the introduction of Inverter-Based Resources (IBR) often included in supporting large data centers.
    • Working Group on Transmission Voltage Optimization. Review the major volt/var control challenges for transmission systems, evaluate the different voltage control methods that have been proposed to address these needs, identify gaps, and propose potential research and development directions often associated with large loads such as data centers.
    • Working Group on Grid Enhancing Technologies. Transmission switching and other GETs to free up existing network capacity for new large loads.
    • Working Group on Generation and Energy Storage Integration with Electric Transmission. Network integration of generation, storage, and power-electronic controllability (HVDC, FACTS): the integration path for the co-located generation and storage that data centers increasingly bring with them.
• • Power Quality Subcommittee:
    Chair: Vong Chan,
    • Harmonics WG (P519, harmonic control at the point of common coupling)

• Overhead Lines Subcommittee:
  Chair: Cody Davis, .
  • Conductors & Accessories WG. P738.1, application guide for IEEE Std 738-2023 including dynamic line ratings; P1283, effects of elevated-temperature operation on conductors and accessories: more capacity from existing lines as large loads connect.

• Capacitor Subcommittee:
  Chair: Timothy Lenberg, .
  
  • Shunt Capacitor Application WG, P1036, guide for application of shunt power capacitors: the reactive support that large data center loads need at their points of connection.
  • Harmonic Filter Application WG, 1531, guide for application of harmonic filters that may be necessary to support large data center loads need at their points of interconnection.

• Engineering in the Safety, Maintenance and Operation of Lines (ESMOL) Subcommittee:
  Chair: Eduardo Ramirez Bettoni, .
  • P3546, guide for Arc Flash Safety Program for Utilities
  • Guide for Maintenance Methods on Energized Power Lines IEEE 516 , Guide for Establishing, Benchmarking, and Maintaining a Working Program for Energized Transmission Lines IEEE 1882.

• Distribution Subcommittee:
  Chair: Masoud Davoudi,
  
  • Task Force on Large Loads and Data Centers in Distribution Systems (proposed) Hosting capacity, protection coordination, equipment thermal loading and asset life, and service design for data centers and other large loads served at distribution voltages, including AI inference and edge sites; coordinated with the Power Quality Subcommittee, the Transmission SC Task Force on Datacenter Interaction with Transmission Systems, and IEEE P4200.

• Related IEEE Standards Projects (Joint):
  
  • IEEE P4200, interconnection requirements for data centers (lead: PES SETCom; T&D is a Co-Standards Committee; WG Chair: Mark Siira, )

• IEEE PES TR136: Voltage Control and Reactive Power Optimization in Emerging Transmission Systems (Prepared by: T&D Transmission SC)
• Coming Soon: Transmission Subcommittee, Task Force on Datacenter Interaction with Transmission Systems: Technical Report

• 2026 IEEE PES General Meeting Panel Sessions
  *Note: These panels are not available on the PES Resource Center*
  • “Grid Interaction Challenges of Data Centers” (Chairs: Shaun Moran, Rob Hovsapian)
  • “High-Fidelity Dynamic Modeling and Grid Stability Analysis of Large AI Data-Center Loads” (Chair: Xin Chen)
  • “Hosting Data Centers in Distribution Systems: Challenges, Strategies, and Solutions” (Chairs: Wen Fan, Zhaoyu Wang)
  • “Large Loads: EMT Studies, Models, and Needs” (Chair: Suman Debnath)
  • “Power Quality and Harmonic Modeling and Simulation for Large Load Impact Studies” (Chair: Roberto Langella)
  • “Power Quality Issues of Large Data Center Loads” (Chair: David Mueller, EnerNex)
  • “Powering Large Loads and Interconnecting Generation to Support Load Growth” (Chair: Michael Perez)
  • “Powering the Digital Age: How Data Centres Are Driving the Need for FACTS Devices” (Chairs: Sahar Azad, Hakan Ergun)
  • “Solutions for Wide-Area EMT Studies of T&D Systems with High Penetration of IBRs and Data Centers” (Chair: Julio Romero Aguero)
• 2026 IEEE PES T&D Conference (Chicago) Panel Sessions:
  • “765 kV System Challenges and Best Practices: Design, Construction, Maintenance, Safety” (Chairs: Eduardo Ramirez Bettoni and Bálint Németh)
  • “AI Datacenter Integration: A Utility Perspective” (Chair: Brian Johnson)
  • “Experiences and Challenges with New 765 kV Transmission Line Design” (Chair: Rob Schaerer)
  • “Grid-Enhancing Technologies and Non-Wires Alternatives: Capital-Light Distribution System Upgrades for Affordability” (Chair: Charles Murray)
  • “Integration Challenges of Hyperscale Datacenters in T&D Systems” (Chair: Sanjeev Pannala)
  • “Meeting Demand with a Plan: Transmission Planning for Strategic Data Center Load Growth” (Chair: Rahul Anilkumar)
  • “Voltage Control and Reactive Power Optimization in Emerging Transmission Systems” (Chair: Alberto Del Rosso)

Upcoming committee meetings

• IEEE PES Joint Technical Committee Meeting, 17-21 January 2027, San Antonio, Texas (T&D subcommittee and task force meetings)
• 2027 IEEE PES General Meeting, 25-29 July 2027, San Francisco, CA