Will PJM do what it takes to get data-center costs under control?
An article examines whether PJM Interconnection, the country's biggest grid operator serving 65 million people, will act as the data-center boom drives its capacity costs from $2.2 billion in 2023 to $16.1 billion, pushing up utility bills and drawing backlash from politicians and consumer advocates. With PJM poised to vote on a fast-track process for connecting data centers, the Data Center Coalition favors a voluntary curtailment scheme, while groups like the Maryland Office of People's Counsel argue mandatory disconnection of data centers during grid emergencies is the only surefire protection for ratepayers.
