No end in sight for rising energy bills in Pennsylvania

Driving the news: Heat waves and soaring power usage have pushed electricity demand on the regional power grid to its highest level in 14 years, the Public Utility Commission said late last week.

Flashback: That demand spike comes after many PECO and PPL customers saw their rates go up June 1.

• That's when electric companies adjusted their rates for residential customers receiving their "default service."

Zoom out: Power needs are growing for the region's power grid, operated by PJM Interconnection. They're fueled in part by a growth of energy-hungry data centers that power artificial intelligence.

• And connecting new power plants to the regional grid, which could boost supply, has been limited due to delays at PJM, per Spotlight PA.
• Meanwhile, utilities have faced steep increases in recent years in the prices they pay for power.

What we're watching: Data center projects are piling up in Pennsylvania.

• Amazon recently pledged $20 billion to build two data center complexes in Bucks County and Luzerne County.
• Blackstone also plans to invest $25 billion in data centers and energy generation in northeast Pennsylvania.