Record-high prices in an electricity “capacity auction”–sparked by soaring data center energy demand–have caused Commonwealth Edison’s electricity price to remain elevated for a second straight summer. ComEd estimates this could cost customers about 12 percent more, on average, from June 2026 through May 2027, but hotter weather and other factors…...
The devil is in the details: Analyzing PJM’s policy proposals on data centers
After months of suspense, the PJM Interconnection Board has proposed a series of policy changes on how to manage data center energy demand–a challenge that, if left unchecked, could in a few years spark catastrophic blackouts and price spikes for the 67 million customers who live in the nation’s largest…...
CUB Q&A: PJM’s Critical Issue Fast Path (CIFP) Policy Proposal on Data Centers
What’s happening? On Wednesday, November 19, PJM members will vote on how to integrate data centers into the grid. As we’ve detailed elsewhere, data centers require massive amounts of electricity and drive up consumer costs. Some, but not all, proposals would ensure that data centers only connect to the electric…...
Data center distress: CUB, NRDC experts warn PJM states could get hit with forced blackouts, $163B in electricity capacity costs
Record new demand from data centers is driving up energy costs and concerns about reliable power supply. Preliminary utility forecasts in PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid operator in the country, show that data centers could require more than 50 gigawatts of peak electricity capacity by 2030 — enough to…...
CUB statement on FERC ordering PJM to make interconnection improvements
The following is a statement from Clara Summers, manager of the Citizens Utility Board’s Consumers for a Better Grid Campaign. (Read CUB’s full statement here.) We thank the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for ordering PJM to take specific steps to finally update its interconnection queue rules to meet national…...
PJM Capacity Auction Leads to Record Price Spike for Second Straight Year, Threatens Even Higher Com Ed Bills in 2026-27
CUB released the following statement: While we are relieved that the negotiated price cap prevented capacity costs from soaring even higher, this record price spike is unacceptable. CUB is deeply concerned that ComEd customers will continue to bear painfully high costs for another year, largely because of policy shortcomings from…...
CUB Q&A: Feds want to hit us with higher electric bills to prop up expensive, out-of-state power plants
This summer, electricity prices are skyrocketing. Starting June 1, consumers started to feel the heat of poor decision-making at our regional grid operators, PJM and MISO. Unfortunately, there is more bad news: the federal Department of Energy is ordering two expensive, out-of-state power plants on the verge of retirement to…...
CUB Warns of June 1 Price Spike on ComEd Bills
Commonwealth Edison’s summer price for electricity is set to increase significantly on June 1, but Illinois’ landmark energy law, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), will give consumers some relief, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Monday, citing filings by the utility. CUB urged ComEd to work with customers…...
