Power Prices Surge 76% as Data Centers Strain Eastern Grid

Wholesale electricity costs across PJM Interconnection jumped to $136.53 per megawatt-hour in early 2026, up 76% from $77.78 a year earlier. Hyperscale data centers expanding across the 13-state grid are driving the spike. The grid operator's monitor warns the cost impact on customers is "very large and not reversible," indicating a structural shift rather than temporary volatility.