PJM Grid Issues Hot Weather Alerts Amid Record Demand, Seeks DOE Backup Power Authority as Data Center Load Strains System

The PJM Interconnection, serving 67 million customers across 13 states, has activated a Hot Weather Alert for its entire region from June 30 through July 3, 2026, in anticipation of extreme heat driving peak power demand. Official PJM postings confirm the alert, with high temperatures expected to push cooling loads and test grid reliability during late-afternoon peaks.

PJM filed with the Department of Energy requesting emergency authorization under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to direct backup generation at data centers and large-load customers as a last resort before or during a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert. This builds on prior DOE orders issued in 2026 that similarly enabled curtailment of such loads or operation of specific units to avert shortages. Maryland Matters reported on the filing, noting PJM's concern that record demand from data centers could force reliance on these measures.

DOE maintains active 202(c) emergency orders for PJM, including extensions authorizing backup generators at large facilities. These actions highlight systemic pressures: surging electricity demand from AI-driven data centers, aging transmission infrastructure, and policy-driven shifts away from baseload generation. While heat waves are seasonal, the combination of rapid load growth and limited new capacity has elevated blackout risks, prompting repeated federal interventions not widely covered until emergencies materialize.