Extreme heat pushed electricity demand to near record levels
Scorching temperatures pushed electricity demand to near record levels in the eastern and mid-Atlantic U.S., straining regional power grids. Data centers are cited as a significant contributor to this rising demand, particularly in regions like Virginia served by PJM Interconnection. Grid operators managed the demand, though localized outages occurred in some areas like New York City.
A recent heat wave pushed electricity demand across the eastern and mid-Atlantic United States to near record levels, straining regional power grids. Temperatures exceeding 100 degrees led to the PJM Interconnection, serving 13 mid-Atlantic states, reaching its second-highest demand ever at 162 gigawatts on July 2. The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) also reported its highest demand in a decade at 121 GW on June 30, while New York and New England grid operators issued conservation alerts.
The surge in demand has heightened concerns about the grid's ability to cope with both extreme weather events and the growing electricity needs of data centers. Jeffrey Shields, a PJM spokesperson, stated that the grid operator received emergency authorization from the Energy Department to direct data centers to switch to backup generation, though this authority was not ultimately used. Mark Christie, a former FERC commissioner, praised PJM's performance under pressure but highlighted the immense challenge, noting that Dominion Energy in Virginia is trying to connect 70 GW of data center load to its system, an amount that would severely test grid capacity during similar heat events.
Localized outages were reported, including in New York City where Consolidated Edison shut off power to 9,800 customers. Climate scientists emphasize that heat waves are becoming more frequent and severe, adding to the grid's challenges. Former FERC chair Richard Glick noted that while political debate focuses on infrastructure for data centers and AI, less attention has been paid to climate change's impact on grid demands.