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Extreme heat drives record demand threat as America's largest grid prepares emergency measures
Fox Business • • business
Key Points:
- PJM Interconnection, serving 67 million people across 13 states and D.C., expects electricity demand to hit 166,147 megawatts on Thursday, potentially breaking a 2006 summer record.
- The grid operator received emergency federal authority allowing temporary power reductions for large users with backup generators, such as data centers, to manage peak demand.
- PJM also obtained temporary environmental permit relief for power plants through July 3 and has issued alerts to maintain grid reliability without requiring residential action.
- Rising electricity demand is driven by extreme heat, increased air conditioning use, and expanding AI data centers, highlighting challenges for U.S. utilities to meet growing power needs.
- Other regional grid operators, including those in New York and the Midwest, are also preparing for potential record-breaking electricity demand amid ongoing heat waves.
