Top US Grid Gets OK to Divert Data Center Power to Households
(Bloomberg) -- The largest US grid operator was granted authority to divert power destined for data centers to households, hospitals and other customers to prevent rolling blackouts as an extreme cold snap strains electricity supplies.
An order signed by Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Monday authorized PJM Interconnection LLC to direct data centers, factories and other large facilities to switch on back-up generators to reduce their burden on the grid and free up more electricity supplies.
PJM, which serves more than 67 million people from Chicago to Virginia, sought federal approval to stave off the potential need to impose rolling blackouts. Wright also gave the same authorization to two units of Duke Energy Corp.
Freezing weather is forecast to persist across much of the US into next week after a massive winter storm blanketed major cities in snow and ice. PJM previously called on all power generators to be ready to produce at maximum capability.
Wholesale electricity prices for Tuesday morning jumped 241% across the PJM grid to more than $2,300 a megawatt-hour due to surging demand for household heating.
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