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Pritzker pins part of Illinois' rising electric bills on regional transmission rules and data-center growth
Summary
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said regional transmission organizations such as PJM and MISO and out‑of‑state large data centers contribute to rising electricity costs in Illinois, and that he has worked with other governors to press the regional operators to change practices.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker told attendees he has been pressing regional transmission organizations to change practices that he says affect Illinois electricity rates. He specifically named PJM (which serves parts of Illinois) and MISO, and argued that new, large data centers in other states can push up prices in Illinois.
"When Ohio builds an enormous AI data center, it affects the people in Illinois because our rates go up here," Pritzker said, arguing the regional nature of transmission markets links Illinois' rates to decisions made in other states. He said governors in the PJM and MISO regions are coordinating to press the organizations—run in part by traditional fossil-fuel operators—to respond to changing demand and cleaner energy integration.
Moderator noted that electricity bills in Illinois rose about 15% last year; Pritzker said data centers are a contributing factor but not the sole cause, citing broader industrial growth and rising demand. Pritzker framed the work as part of a broader effort to protect affordability for residents while pursuing clean-energy goals.
