PJM proposes capacity auction overhaul and data center curbs to ease market strain

The operator of America's largest electricity market is redesigning its auction system and considering demand-shedding measures to address a multiyear capacity crisis fueling higher prices across 13 states.

First covered Jul 28, 2026 · 7:09 AM PT · 2 articles

PJM proposes capacity auction overhaul and data center curbs to ease market strain — Image via heatmap.news

Coverage

3h Heatmap News America’s Largest Electricity Market Lurches Towards Reform — America’s largest electricity market, the 13-state PJM Interconnection, is being forced to rapidly redesign how it works in order to meet its own reliability…

10h Utility Dive PJM board proposes backstop capacity auction, data center curtailment plans — FERC’s response to the proposals will likely “influence utility capital investment, data center development timelines and the allocation of reliability risks…

Primary sources

ferc.gov Chairman Laura Swetts Comments Pjms Annual Meeting Baltimore Md 0 (ferc.gov)

Related coverage

8h TechCrunch Climate Data centers may face temporary power cuts to prevent blackouts on largest US grid

More coverage from around the web

ieefa.org Projected data center growth spurs PJM capacity prices by factor of 10 | IEEFA

monitoringanalytics.com 2026 State of the Market Report for PJM Monitoring Analytics, LLC Independent

gpuleaseindex.com PJM Capacity Auction Data Center Cost Impact: 833% Price Surge & $329/MW-Day Analysis (2026)

Appeared in: 2026-07-28 (#3) · 2026-07-29 (#2)

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