Wholesale electricity prices in the PJM Interconnection rose 76 percent year over year during early 2026 as data center demand accelerated, according to mapped price analysis published by Visual Capitalist. PJM is the largest US power market, serving 13 eastern states and Washington, DC.

Price movement of that magnitude in a single market year traces to capacity procurement rather than fuel costs alone. When forecast peak load rises faster than new generation enters service, capacity auction clearing prices climb, and those costs flow through to load-serving entities and eventually to retail customers.

Related market reporting places the increase in context. PJM's Independent Market Monitor found total wholesale power costs rose 49 percent during 2025, with a 262 percent increase in capacity costs attributed to data center demand.

Retail effects have drawn regulatory attention across multiple states. Aggregate analysis attributes roughly $23 billion in added consumer electricity costs to data center load growth, and rate cases have begun to test whether large-load customers should carry a different cost allocation than residential and small commercial classes.

Geographic redistribution is already visible. High power costs and multi-year interconnection queues in the PJM footprint have pushed developers toward ERCOT in Texas and MISO in the Midwest, where connection timelines have historically run shorter.

Source: Visual Capitalist - https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-where-electricity-prices-jumped-the-most-in-america/