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The largest US power grid PJM is moving to manage data center demand

On Tuesday, members of the PJM interconnection voted to advance a proposal to increase electricity supply to meet the 'rising demand for data centers' that threatens to overwhelm regional electricity supplies on the largest U.S. grid.

PJM has been inundated with requests from Big Tech and developers over the past two years to connect data centers that are energy-intensive to the grid, which covers 13 states and DC. This has thrown the'supply-and demand balance' off, which is needed to provide power reliably and affordably to 65 million people within PJM footprint.

PJM's capacity prices have risen by over 1,000% in the last few years. These are paid to power stations to ensure that they can supply 'enough power for the grid at peak demand times.

PJM members voted on a non-binding basis for more than a dozen different proposals to supply 'data centers via a 'backstop - procurement process. Data center advocates and major electric utilities proposed a plan that was advanced.

This plan proposed a process for procurement that would start on September 10, 2026, and end on November 20, 2026. That was also what PJM proposed.

PJM encourages long-term contracts between power providers and data centers, but any?shortfall could be covered through the procurement process.

The board will be informed by the votes, but ultimately it is the board that decides on the policies and terms.

Members also voted to determine if and how they would reduce their energy use during times of grid stress, as well as who would pay for certain measures to connect and manage server warehouses quickly.

PJM has 'proposed that data centers pay for new power supplies on the grid in order to cover their 'energy use, or agree to have their electricity cut off when the 'electricity usage of the entire grid is high enough. This will help to prevent broader blackouts.

The group did vote against any of the proposed changes. Reporting by Laila K. Kearney, New York; editing by Chris Reese

(source: Reuters)