PJM power prices jump 76% as watchdog blames data centers and grid operator delays

Wholesale electricity hit $136 per megawatt hour

Prices on the PJM Interconnection’s massive U.S. grid nearly doubled over the past year, rising to $136.53 per megawatt-hour from $77.78, according to Monitoring Analytics, the market’s independent watchdog. It points to data centers as the driver of surging load and says PJM failed to plan and execute in time. The monitor warns the damage to customers is “not reversible” and argues PJM’s supply and transparency gaps left capacity too tight for the near future.