TechCrunch
Data centers may face temporary power cuts to prevent blackouts on largest US grid
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
The grid operator serving the Eastern Interconnection, which covers roughly half of the United States, announced plans to implement power cuts to large data centers to prevent blackouts beginning in 2026. The operator did not specify which data centers would be affected or provide details on the frequency or duration of the cuts. The announcement follows increased electricity demand from data centers supporting artificial intelligence operations.
