Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 15
PJM Power Auction Ties $16.4 Billion Record as Data Centers Drive $6.3 Billion
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 15

PJM Power Auction Ties $16.4 Billion Record as Data Centers Drive $6.3 Billion

3 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · Jul 15

Summary

  • $16.4 billion was cleared in PJM Interconnection's latest capacity auction for the year starting June 2028, matching the record set in late 2025.
  • $6.3 billion of that total came from data centers, whose power demand lifted supply costs for the largest US grid by more than 60%, according to the market monitor.
  • PJM, which serves 13 states and Washington, DC, is the largest US electric grid and is struggling to secure enough supply amid the AI-driven surge in electricity use.
  • The result underscores how rapid data-center expansion is reshaping US power markets, pushing up procurement costs even before the delivery year begins.

Insights

Who will ultimately pay for AI's massive energy appetite: Big Tech or the average American household?
As AI's thirst for power breaks the grid, must we cap digital growth to keep the lights on?