America needs more power, more affordably.
The time for greater grid utilization is NOW.
Utilize is a national, industry-led campaign working state by state to increase grid utilization—lowering energy costs, enabling growth, and accelerating deployment of proven distributed capacity solutions.
Founding Supporters
“Imagine a restaurant open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that always maintains a full staff. With the exception of weekend nights and the lunch rush, the restaurant will be empty a lot of the time. But the restaurant’s owner is paying to keep it open all the time — spending money on staffing and rent even when the number of customers is low.
That’s the reality of the U.S. electricity grid. It is built to handle “peak demand” — moments of high electricity usage that often happen in the height of summer or in the frigid cold of winter.”
— Washington Post “The U.S. may have a secret weapon against rising electricity prices” 12/25/25
America’s electric grid is ready for transformation.
Over the past 25 years, average U.S. grid utilization has fallen. That means billions of dollars of generation, transmission, and distribution capacity sits idle for most hours of the year.
Why it matters
Electricity costs are driven by a simple equation: the cost of the grid divided by how much electricity we sell over it.
Providing more power through the grid we have lowers costs for everyone.
What’s at stake
By using the grid more efficiently and increasing grid utilization:
Americans can save billions of dollars in electricity costs
Grid interconnection queues will be shortened, enabling new loads to connect faster
New industries can grow faster, and new jobs will be created quicker
Communities will benefit from a more reliable grid and economic growth
America’s grid needs more capacity— there’s a solution hiding in plain sight.
Meet Utilize
Utilize is the leading voice advocating for smarter use of the existing electric grid through increased grid utilization.
We are an industry-led, two-year campaign uniting utilities, consumer advocates, technology and service providers, large-load customers, and researchers around a shared goal: sell more electrons over the grid we have to lower costs for everyone.
We bring bipartisan experience, credibility, and proven solutions to policymakers—so they can act faster, with confidence.
Our plan to increase grid utilization
Measure and incentivize state-level grid utilization
We work with governors, legislatures, regulators, and grid operators to establish technology-neutral grid utilization goals within existing planning processes.
Deploy proven distributed capacity solutions
Battery storage, demand response, virtual power plants, grid-enhancing technologies, and grid visibility tools already work—at scale. We advocate for policies that unlock them, empowering utilities and regulators in each state to decide for themselves the best solutions for their unique geographies.
Educate and motivate
Grid utilization is an under-researched field. We shine a light on the potential through research, policy papers, media appearances, and public events.
The grid can be bigger and smarter at the same time.
Electricity becomes cheaper
New customers connect faster
Utilities get more value from existing assets
Communities gain jobs and economic growth
America maintains its leadership in AI, manufacturing, and innovation
Join us
Utilize is bringing together a diverse coalition of technology providers, utilities, consumer advocates, academics, researchers, regulators, and policymakers from across the political spectrum. If you’d like to sign-up to learn more, join us.