The White House and a bipartisan group of governors are urging the operator of the mid-Atlantic power grid to act quickly to increase energy supply and keep prices down. This push comes as concerns about energy costs rise among voters ahead of the upcoming elections. A significant focus is on the growing energy demand from artificial intelligence.
The National Energy Dominance Council, along with governors from states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia, aims to persuade PJM Interconnection to hold a power auction. This would allow tech firms to bid for contracts to build new power plants. This initiative was initially reported by Bloomberg.
Taylor Rogers, a White House spokesperson, emphasized that ensuring affordable and reliable electricity is a priority for President Trump. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro plans to attend the White House event but has linked his participation to extending a limit on rising wholesale electricity prices for consumers.
Interestingly, PJM Interconnection, the grid operator, won’t be present. A spokesperson stated they weren’t invited to the event, raising questions about the planning process.
As demand for electricity surges—especially from data centers—consumers are feeling the financial strain. Many are falling behind on their bills, with advocates noting that grid users are already paying higher rates to support these tech facilities. In fact, some regions are seeing data centers being built faster than new power plants, creating a significant imbalance.
Recent statistics reveal that gas and electric utilities have requested or secured rate increases totaling over $34 billion during the first three quarters of 2025. This figure is twice as high as in the same period last year, demonstrating escalating energy costs that Americans simply can’t afford.
Communities with rising electric bills are likely to influence pivotal contests in the upcoming elections. As seen in last year’s gubernatorial races, electricity costs were a major concern for voters in states like New Jersey and Virginia. Economic issues are shaping the political landscape, with voters expressing their worries about affordability as a top priority.
For further insights into energy costs and management, you can visit the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a reliable source for energy statistics and analysis.
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Energy industry, Subsidies, Taxes, Elections, Data management and storage, Politics, Information technology, Artificial intelligence, Business, Technology, Washington news, General news, Article, 129268663
