Local customers subsidize out‑of‑state data centers

Grid upgrades to serve concentrated, high‑density data centers can be paid for through regional rate allocations, meaning residents in one state may shoulder large utility bill increases to build transmission that mainly benefits facilities in neighboring states. Maryland's Office of People's Counsel alleges PJM's $22 billion plan will raise Maryland customer bills by about $1.6 billion over ten years and has filed a complaint with FERC. — If true and repeated, this cost‑shifting will reshape local permitting fights, state regulatory strategy, and utility rate design for large industrial electrification projects.