Utilities are cracking down on “phantom” data centers. (FT)
The issue: Developers have been shopping the same projects to multiple utilities, leaving ghost entries in interconnection queues and distorting long-term load planning.
PJM, DOE, and FERC are warning that unchecked double-counting could push utilities to overbuild—and saddle ratepayers with unnecessary costs.
Utilities are responding with tougher rules: AEP Ohio cut ~30% of its pipeline, PG&E removed 400 MW, and major providers in Virginia, Illinois, and Texas are rolling out tariffs that force developers to pre-pay most of their stated load.