US can order data centers off the grid
The US Energy Department issued emergency orders letting grid operator PJM force data centers onto their own backup generators, as record heat pushed the power network serving 67 million people toward an all-time demand high.
- Sites drawing 50 megawatts or more, chiefly AI data centers, must switch to their own generators within 15 minutes of the emergency signal. Hospitals, 911 centers, and water plants are exempt.
- PJM, the largest US grid, forecast demand of 166,147 megawatts for July 2, above the all-time record of 165,563 set in 2006, with temperatures of 35 to 40C (95 to 105F).
- The first order ran June 30 through July 3; a follow-up order extends the backup-power authority through July 7.
Why it mattersAI's data centers now compete with homes for electricity. When the grid nears blackout, the US government's last resort is ordering them to power themselves.
US Energy Department, Emergency… ↗ · Jul 5, 2026 · ✓ Checked