US power grid operator and GO15 member PJM Interconnection has filed a regulatory proposal with FERC to introduce the Interim Resource Adequacy Service (IRAS) framework, aiming at managing rapid demand growth, driven by data centers accounting for 30 GW of a projected 32 GW increase between 2024 and 2030.
Designed to protect system reliability and cost affordability, the framework requires new large loads to bring or fund their own new dedicated generation capacity. For entities that fail to secure adequate supply or coverage through the Reliability Backstop Procurement, IRAS establishes a priority emergency curtailment procedure. During supply scarcities, PJM would direct load-serving entities to shedding demand from these unsupported large loads before curtailing traditional residential customers or paid Load Management participants.
Additionally, PJM will maintain a Large Load Registry for regional tracking, while excluding unbacked large loads from future capacity auction forecasts starting with the 2029/2030 cycle.