Eversource Energy

Eversource and Dartmouth Engineering have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity under its Speed to Power (SPARK) program for an initiative to expand grid capacity and lower customer costs. The collaboration, called the Dynamic Rating Enhancement Advancements and Modernization (DREAM) initiative, will deploy dynamic line rating technology across approximately 4,000 miles of Eversource's transmission network in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, using thermal field sensing, advanced weather forecasting and digital analytical models to give operators real-time visibility into system conditions. Eversource said the project could unlock additional transfer capability that may mitigate or delay the need to build certain new transmission facilities, at significantly less cost than equivalent new infrastructure. Pending successful negotiations and execution of a final award agreement, the award could represent approximately $47.7 million in funding, with the initiative expected to begin in 2027. Eversource's DREAM initiative was one of 31 projects selected across 26 states.

ISO New England has selected Eversource's joint Transmission Initiative Down East project as the preferred longer-term transmission solution in its competitive solicitation process. The TIDE project would expand transmission capacity between Maine and New Hampshire, easing regional congestion and supporting affordability, and could integrate up to 1,200 megawatts of future onshore wind generation in northern New England. According to ISO New England's analysis, TIDE is projected to deliver a more than 2-to-1 cost-benefit ratio, including $1.42 billion in production cost and congestion savings, $1.30 billion in avoided capital investment, and $694 million in avoided transmission investment. Eversource's portion centers on upgrades and replacement within existing rights-of-way in New Hampshire, including a new 18-mile, 345 kilovolt line, a rebuild of an existing 345 kV line from a two-pole, H-frame design to a single-pole, reconductoring of another existing 345 kV line, and voltage and power quality equipment, with additional work in Maine and Massachusetts. The project still requires engineering, environmental, permitting and regulatory reviews, with construction anticipated to begin in 2029 pending all state and regulatory approvals.

Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House announced a joint effort to test vehicle-to-grid capabilities in Massachusetts. Qualifying residential customers of Eversource and National Grid will be able to enroll their V2G-capable electric vehicles in the existing ConnectedSolutions program, which already uses flexible capacity from thermostats, batteries, and commercial and industrial resources to reduce grid strain. Participating EVs will send stored energy back to the grid during peak demand, helping prevent system strain and enhancing overall grid stability, while drivers earn incentives. National Grid is also leveraging V2G for light-to-medium-duty fleets within ConnectedSolutions, beginning with school buses, and Eversource is in discussions with districts as part of its ConnectedSolutions+ offering. The partnership aims to turn parked EVs into a vital tool for a more reliable energy system, with more than 150,000 EVs on the road in Massachusetts and an increasing number of bidirectional-capable models available.

Surging AI data center electricity demand is accelerating utility infrastructure spending and making high-yield utility stocks increasingly attractive for long-term investors. Avista offers a strong 4.64% dividend and holds a Weiss Ratings Buy rating. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners yields 4.64% and carries Morgan Stanley's Overweight rating with a $46 price target. Edison International pays a 4.37% dividend, has Barclays' Overweight rating and a $77 price objective, and is seen as a strong pick through 2026. Eversource Energy yields 4.06% with Wells Fargo's Overweight rating and a $76 target, while Portland General Electric pays 3.98% and has a BTIG Buy rating with a $58 target.

Eversource Energy has completed the nearly US$1.70 billion sale of its Aquarion water business, using the proceeds to reduce debt and reposition itself as a pure-play regulated electric and natural gas utility. The company discussed the transaction during its second-quarter 2026 earnings call, emphasizing a sharper focus on core infrastructure and grid reliability investments. Management highlighted that the sale proceeds are earmarked to lower leverage at a time when interest payments are not well covered by earnings and rising financing costs remain a key concern. The call also served as a near-term catalyst for investors to assess how the Aquarion exit and pure-play shift are reflected in the balance sheet and interest costs. Eversource’s multi-year capital expenditure plan and post-sale leverage will be critical factors in evaluating the company’s risk profile amid potentially tougher regulation that could compress allowed returns.

Zacks Investment Research compared CenterPoint Energy and Eversource Energy, concluding that Eversource offers better return potential based on several financial metrics. Eversource's return on equity stands at 11.59%, above CenterPoint's 10.56% and the industry average of 11.22%, while its dividend yield of 4.49% exceeds CenterPoint's 2.13%. Eversource also carries a lower debt-to-capital ratio of 64.50% versus CenterPoint's 68.31%, and holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) compared to CenterPoint's Rank of 4 (Sell). CenterPoint's long-term earnings growth estimate is 8.85%, higher than Eversource's 3.25%, but Eversource's stronger efficiency and shareholder returns led Zacks to favor it at this time.