Power bills are set to rise 30-60% in the Mid-Atlantic over the next 5 years due to data centers. PJM was finally working to protect customers–until this week when they walked back their proposal in response to industry pressure.

PJM, the grid operator for 67 million Americans from DC to Chicago, initially proposed excluding large loads like data centers from its capacity market or making them participate in demand response programs. This requirement would have reduced sky-high electricity prices due to supply-demand shortfalls. But PJM revised its proposal this week in response to industry pressure, making participation totally optional–and leaving ratepayers footing a $100 billion bill for data centers' energy needs.