PJM Proposal Leaves Consumers Vulnerable to Billions in Inflated Costs

PJM Interconnection has put forward a draft plan for how to accommodate new energy demand from data centers. The proposed approach would leave families and businesses across 13 states and D.C. paying billions in unfair electricity costs while subsidizing the massive energy appetites of data centers. Without decisive action, PJM ratepayers face over $100 billion in unnecessary costs through 2032. 

Vote Solar Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Elowyn Corby, issued the following statement:

“PJM’s current proposal falls far short of protecting consumers. Instead of shielding households from skyrocketing bills, it would leave ratepayers covering billions of dollars each year in inflated capacity payments—all while tech giants expand their data centers without bearing the true cost of their energy demand.

“Families are already struggling with rising utility bills, yet PJM is also considering creating a special ‘fast track’ for data centers to connect to the grid—skipping the line while clean energy projects that could lower costs and improve reliability wait in PJM’s interconnection queue.

“The principle here is simple: those who create new demand on the electric system should not be allowed to pass their costs onto everyone else. 

“We urge PJM’s board to stand with the 67 million people who rely on it to provide affordable and reliable power. Tech companies have the resources and sophistication to secure their own energy. What they lack is the requirement to do so. PJM must provide that requirement.”