The nation's largest grid operator warned that it could temporarily cut off data centers without an independent source of power in an unmanageable demand event. Data center operators will be notified ahead of time if the utility moves to enact the emergency measure. The utility provider's power supply costs have risen by more than 60% amid increased demand from data centers, independent market monitor Monitoring Analytics reported earlier this month. The organization has faced increased scrutiny from lawmakers and consumer advocates as data centers have become a political football. PJM serves Virginia, which includes the largest hub of data centers worldwide in the Washington suburbs, and Pennsylvania, where the industry’s rapid growth has faced intense resident backlash.