PJM expects 166,147 MW peak load on Thursday as extreme heat prompts emergency grid measures
PJM's emergency federal authority to curtail large loads and relax certain emissions limits highlights near-term U.S. power-supply tightness as demand approaches a two-decade high, amplified by extreme heat and AI data-center growth. The spike in wholesale prices in data-center-heavy Northern Virginia signals volatility in peak-power pricing and reliability risk. The episode elevates operational and regulatory uncertainty for power markets and energy-intensive users.
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PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. grid operator, expects electricity demand to reach 166,147 megawatts on Thursday, a level not seen in nearly 20 years. It has secured an emergency order from the Energy Department that could allow transmission operators to curtail usage by data centers and other large customers with backup generation if needed. PJM also obtained temporary relief from certain environmental permit restrictions for power plants through July 3 to help meet surging demand. Wholesale power prices have jumped in parts of the region, including northern Virginia, as temperatures neared 100 degrees.