Maryland fights $2B grid bill tied to data centers

Maryland’s Office of People’s Counsel has filed a complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission challenging PJM Interconnection’s plan to charge the state about $2 billion for grid upgrades largely benefiting data centers, warning Maryland ratepayers could pay about $1.6 billion over the next decade (roughly $823M residential, $146M commercial, and $629M industrial). It argues the cost allocation is unfair and should be borne by the benefiting data centers or their operators under the ratepayer protection pledge.