Power prices in largest US grid rise most in recent months, Hitachi Energy data shows
XLU•Average day-ahead wholesale electricity prices in PJM rose about 24% to $52 per megawatt-hour from April to September 2026 versus the same period a year earlier, the largest increase among US grids. Hitachi Energy attributed the rise to demand, hotter weather and higher fuel costs without enough new power supply.
1. PJM prices lead increases
Average day-ahead wholesale electricity prices in PJM Interconnection, which spans 13 Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states, rose about 24% to $52 per megawatt-hour from April to September 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. Hitachi Energy attributed the increase to rising demand from data centers and other large energy users, hotter weather and higher fuel costs, including for natural gas, without enough new power supply.
2. Other regional price moves
New England prices rose about 11% to $50 per megawatt-hour, while prices in New York and the Midwest also increased year over year. Prices fell on average in Texas and California. Peak day-ahead prices were highest in PJM at $1,700 per megawatt-hour, followed by about $1,100 in the Midwestern grid MISO.
