US PJM grid can curb data center power usage in emergencies, Department of Energy says
May 20, 2026
US PJM grid can curb data center power usage in emergencies, Department of Energy says
The U.S. Department of Energy has confirmed that PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid in North America spanning 13 states, has the authority to curtail power to data centers across its Mid-Atlantic and Midwest footprint during severe power emergencies. As a last resort to avoid rolling blackouts, PJM can direct transmission operators to cut power to data centers and require them to switch to backup generation, according to a DOE order issued on Monday.
The DOE stated that a “statutory emergency exists in (PJM), due to a sudden increase in demand, a shortage of electric energy, a shortage of facilities for the generation of electric energy, and other causes.” PJM, which serves the world's largest cluster of data centers, is undertaking a series of reforms to manage demand that has outpaced supply and threatened grid stability.
Source: Reuters
