PJM Interconnection Calls for Stronger Coordination With Data Centers to Protect Grid Reliability

PJM Interconnection on Oct. 21 highlighted the need for stronger coordination with data centers and faster infrastructure development to address growing electricity demand and grid reliability risks at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s annual Reliability Technical Conference. PJM Senior Director of Operations Planning Christopher Pilong outlined the challenges created by the rapid expansion of large electricity users and delays in building generation and transmission facilities needed to serve them.

PJM identified data centers’ near-constant electricity consumption as a growing challenge, particularly during spring and fall maintenance periods when generators and transmission facilities are taken offline. Reduced resource availability can force grid operators to rely on emergency procedures, as occurred Oct. 12–14 when temperatures reached up to 20 degrees above normal across PJM and neighboring regions. The operator expects greater operational flexibility to remain necessary until additional infrastructure becomes available.

Pilong outlined four priorities: requiring large electricity users to provide timely and regularly updated technical information; establishing enforceable requirements to keep facilities connected during voltage and frequency disturbances; aligning decisions to connect and activate large loads with available generation and transmission capacity; and strengthening electricity and natural gas planning, cybersecurity protections and accountability for facility performance.

The effort follows a July 22 incident in which approximately 3,900 megawatts of large electricity loads unexpectedly switched to backup generation following routine transmission events. Although PJM and transmission owners managed the disruption, the transfer caused concerning voltage fluctuations. PJM is also participating in North American Electric Reliability Corporation efforts to develop reliability standards for large computational loads.

Separately, the grid operator is exploring ways to reduce data center electricity consumption by shifting certain computing tasks to periods when demand on the grid is lower. The initiative, known as compute flexibility, involves Emerald AI and other data center customers, with studies planned or underway at multiple facilities, including an NVIDIA artificial intelligence facility in Manassas, Virginia. PJM is also developing a response to the commission’s request for interim transmission service arrangements that would allow more flexible connections and operating conditions.

These measures aim to improve coordination between data centers and grid operators while new generation and transmission capacity catches up with demand growth.