There is no one national answer. The result depends on how a utility plans and pays for generation, transmission, substations, and other upgrades—and how costs are assigned among customer classes.
A rate case, integrated-resource plan, or utility commission docket is usually more useful than a headline when evaluating a local claim.
What to verify locally: Find the right regulator and learn what evidence can actually answer the question locally.
Follow the money trail
Use original public records whenever possible. A developer statement can explain an intent; an approval, permit, or utility filing is where enforceable details are more likely to appear.
Documents that matter
Record the date, document title, agency, page number, and project address. That turns a claim into something another reader can check.
Evidence standard: this guide avoids treating a proposal as a completed project, and avoids treating a missing record as proof that no impact exists.