Data Center Interconnection Queue: Wait Times, Backlogs & Grid Impact
- ERCOT is tracking 474 GW of large-load requests — approximately 90% are data centers.
- PJM interconnection waits now approach 7 years for large AI campuses in Northern Virginia.
- Governor Abbott paused all new Texas data center grid connections in August 2026 pending a comprehensive audit.
Queue Size by Region
| ISO/RTO | Queue Backlog | Data Center Share | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERCOT | 474 GW | ~90% | Texas |
| PJM | 287 GW | ~40–50% | 13 states (VA, OH, PA, NJ, etc.) |
| MISO | ~170 GW | Growing | 15 Midwest/South states |
| CAISO | ~300 GW (generation) | Moderate | California |
| SPP | ~120 GW | Growing | Central U.S. |
These queues include both generation (solar, wind, storage) and load (data centers). ERCOT’s large-load queue is separate from its generation queue.
How Long Does It Take?
| Region | Typical Wait (100+ MW) | Fast-Track Option |
|---|---|---|
| ERCOT | 3–4 years | Yes (<20 MW) |
| PJM | 5–7 years | Limited |
| MISO | 4–5 years | No |
| CAISO | 5–6 years | No |
| SPP | 4–5 years | No |
Interconnection has replaced chip supply as the primary bottleneck for AI data center deployment. The U.S. median across all projects is approaching 5 years. ERCOT processes 100+ MW loads about 33% faster than PJM.
Texas Batch Zero — What Happened
ERCOT approved a Batch Zero framework in June 2026 to group large-load projects of 75+ MW into coordinated study batches. Roughly 205 GW of large load was eligible.
On August 3, Governor Abbott halted all new data center grid connections pending a comprehensive PUCT/ERCOT audit. Projects must now disclose ownership, financial commitments, water use, and community impacts before proceeding. ERCOT expects the verification process to take “several months.”
For the full picture on Texas and other state-level restrictions, see our data center moratoriums tracker.
What This Means for Electricity Rates
- In PJM, data centers drove a $9.3 billion capacity cost increase in the 2025–26 delivery year.
- This translates to roughly $16–18/month on residential bills in Ohio and Maryland.
- PJM capacity auction prices jumped from $28.92/MW-day to $269.92/MW-day in one year.
- The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas estimates wholesale power prices could rise up to 50% as data center demand doubles.
See rate details for affected states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an interconnection queue?
An interconnection queue is the formal process a power project or large electricity consumer must go through to connect to the grid. Operators like ERCOT, PJM, and MISO study each request to ensure the grid can handle the new load without reliability issues. The process includes engineering studies, impact assessments, and infrastructure upgrade agreements — and it can take years.
Why is the ERCOT queue so large?
Texas is deregulated and has no capacity market, which makes it attractive for large loads that want to negotiate directly with generators. ERCOT also runs a separate large-load interconnection process that is roughly 33% faster than PJM’s. The result: 474 GW of requests, approximately 90% of which are data centers, making it the largest queue in the country by load volume.
Can data centers bypass the queue?
Not entirely, but there are shortcuts. Behind-the-meter generation (on-site natural gas or solar) can reduce or eliminate the need for grid interconnection. Some operators use demand response agreements to get provisional access faster. ERCOT’s fast-track option handles projects under 20 MW. But for 100+ MW hyperscale campuses, the full queue process is unavoidable.
How does queue backlog affect my electricity bill?
When utilities need to upgrade transmission and generation to serve queued projects, those costs are passed to all ratepayers through capacity auctions and infrastructure surcharges. In PJM, data center growth drove a $9.3 billion capacity cost increase in the 2025–26 delivery year, translating to roughly $16–18/month on residential bills in states like Ohio and Maryland.
Sources: ERCOT Senate testimony (Jul 2026), PJM BRA results, Baker Botts (Aug 2026), Presenc AI, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.