NERC Elevates Alert, Demands Seven Measures to Stabilize Data-Center Loads

NERC has issued a rare Level 3 alert warning that data centers can cause abrupt load losses and oscillations that threaten the power grid, ordering seven concrete actions for transmission planners/operators and balancing authorities. Required steps include collecting and sharing detailed computational-load data, updating facility interconnection requirements, revising protection and stability studies, establishing a commissioning/testing process, and installing dynamic fault recorders, with entities due to acknowledge by May 11 and respond by Aug 3. The move highlights growing data-center demand as a key reliability risk amid rising summer peak loads."