Montgomery County residents worried about large-scale data centers proposed for Conshohocken and Limerick may soon see new safeguards aimed at protecting both grid reliability and household electric bills.

Audubon’s PJM Interconnection has unveiled a plan to manage skyrocketing electricity demand driven largely by data centers powering artificial intelligence, according to Reuters.

Under the proposal, new large-scale power users such as data centers would be required to either supply their own electricity generation or agree to a “connect and manage” framework that allows PJM to curtail their power use during periods of grid stress. The goal: prevent sudden demand spikes from pushing costs and reliability risks onto existing customers.

PJM says data centers now account for the vast majority of new power demand waiting to connect to the grid, forcing the operator to rethink how these energy-hungry projects are approved. The plan also calls for fast-tracking new power generation, improving load forecasting, expanding state involvement, and launching emergency procurement tools to stabilize near-term supply.

For Montco residents concerned about footing the bill for AI-driven growth, PJM’s approach signals a shift toward ensuring that future data center demand doesn’t come at the expense of keeping local rates steady.

To learn more about PJM’s proposal and the growing grid pressures, visit Reuters.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on MONTCO.Today in January 2026.