The regional electric grid operator, PJM, is predicting power demand will surge this week as arctic cold follows the continental winter storm that dumped about a foot of snow on the Capital region.

The grid operator said peak demand has the potential to exceed 130,000 megawatts for seven straight days until Feb. 1, a winter streak that is unprecedented. Tuesday could see a new all-time winter load peak.

“We will be relying on our generation fleet to perform as well as they did during last year’s record winter peak,” said Mike Bryson, PJM senior vice president, Sunday.

The federal Department of Energy issued an order Sunday allowing generators in PJM’s 13-state region to operate at full capacity regardless of air quality permits, during the cold snap.

PJM’s cold weather alerts provide a real-time focus to an ongoing debate in Harrisburg about how to meet growing power demands during major weather events and from data center and other major users. Escalating utility bills for consumers drive the debate, too.

PJM is under pressure from the Trump administration and Gov. Josh Shapiro to extend price caps to cover future capacity auctions.

The capacity auction for electric power purchased at the wholesale level is meant to secure enough power to meet predicted demand.

The House Energy Committee rescheduled a vote on House Bill 1834 establishing state regulation of data centers to Feb. 2.

One provision of HB1834 sponsored by state Rep. Robert Matzie, D-Beaver, would curtail electric demand by data centers during emergencies.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is likely to address electric demand and cost issues during his state budget address Feb. 3.

Following Winter Storm Elliott at Christmas 2022 which strained the grid, the Senate held several hearings on grid reliability, which led to legislation promoting new generating plants.