Data center power supplies imperiled by crunch in top US grid
PJM Interconnection LLC, the biggest U.S. power grid operator, warns that data centers may face involuntary outages starting in mid-2027. This plan aims to prevent widespread blackouts and protect residential ratepayers from electricity price spikes. Data centers that fail to secure adequate power generation may be temporarily disconnected during high-demand periods.
PJM Interconnection LLC, which manages the largest power grid in the United States, has issued a stark warning to stakeholders: data centers within its operational area could face involuntary power outages as early as mid-2027. This measure is being considered as a critical step to avert widespread blackouts across the region and to insulate residential ratepayers from significant spikes in electricity prices.
The proposed plan indicates that digital warehouses, like the Amazon Web Services data center shown in Stone Ridge, Virginia, that do not adequately secure their own power generation to meet their demands, may be temporarily disconnected from the grid. Such disconnections would occur during periods of exceptionally high electricity demand, prioritizing grid stability and consumer protection.