PJM is the biggest power grid in the United States reported a 76% rise in wholesale electricity prices for the first three months of 2026, as average prices went from $77.78 per megawatt-hour in early 2025 to $136.53 per megawatt-hour this year. The independent market monitor says the main reason is the huge growth in power use from AI data centers, which tightened supplies and pushed up capacity costs by nearly 400%. The monitor adds that the extra costs for customers are very large and cannot be undone through at least May 2028. To fix this, the monitor wants PJM to make new large data centers either wait in a special line until enough power plants and wires are built or pay for and add their own new power supply so regular home and business customers do not have to pay for the power needs of tech companies growing their AI centers.