Lobbying Clash Intensifies Over Utilities’ Right to Build Grid

With trillions of dollars poised to pour into the US power grid, energy regulators are under pressure to reconsider a shield for electric utilities from competitive bidding in a sweeping final transmission rule expected this spring.

Both utilities and supporters of competition have been stepping up their lobbying campaigns in recent months in Washington and state capitals. The two sides have traded barbs with dueling studies and white papers portraying their approach as the path to lower consumer utility bills and accelerate the pace of clean energy deployment.

“The competition issue is front ...