PJM Suspends Emergency Power Auction as FERC Seeks Cost-Protection Overhaul for Data Centers

PJM Interconnection, operator of the largest U.S. electric grid serving 67 million people across 13 states, suspended its emergency capacity auction Wednesday after federal regulators determined the plan inadequately protected residential consumers from soaring data center infrastructure costs. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved PJM's filing conditionally, halting the auction—originally scheduled September 30 through October 21—until February 28, 2027, and ordering a technical review on cost allocation, transmission rules, and market design.