Amid rising electricity bills across the DMV, leaders from both political parties urge swift action from PJM to lower costs.
WASHINGTON — As winter temperatures grip the region, concern over soaring energy bills continues to rise across the District, Maryland, and Virginia. For more than a year, residents throughout the DMV have faced record increases in electricity costs, with some households reporting bills that have doubled — or worse.
“I don’t like it. We pay enough already,” one Maryland resident said. Another described opening a recent statement and being stunned. “The energy bill is like double or more than double, and I don’t understand why.”
On Thursday, the Trump administration escalated pressure on the region’s power grid operator, calling for immediate action to bring prices down. The move brought together an unusual coalition at the White House: Maryland Democratic Governor Wes Moore, outgoing Virginia Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin, and senior Trump administration officials—all aligned around the same goal.
“It was an interesting scene,” observers noted, as leaders from across party lines voiced rare agreement on the need for cheaper electricity.
At the center of the discussion was PJM Interconnection, the independent operator that manages the electric grid serving 13 states, including Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Experts say electricity prices across the region have climbed due to a combination of limited energy generation capacity and soaring demand—much of it driven by the rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centers.
“We want as low-cost electricity as possible,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. “If we can build new generation in a sensible way, we can ultimately stop the rise of electricity prices and grow jobs.”
According to Wright, the administration, with the backing of Governors Moore and Youngkin, has issued a three-part directive to PJM:
“Our messaging today is to push PJM,” Wright said. “We know the answer.”
For residents, the issue spans every season. In summer, air conditioning strains household budgets; in winter, heating costs can become overwhelming. One Marylander recalled receiving a bill totaling $830. “Serious?” they said. “Yeah — they actually cut it off.”
Moore emphasized the urgency of the moment, urging PJM to act swiftly. “We need PJM to take action,” he said. “We need PJM to take this seriously.”
In response, a spokesperson for PJM said the organization is reviewing the principles outlined by the White House and participating governors.
Despite deep political divides elsewhere, leaders involved in Thursday’s meeting stressed unity on the energy issue.
“The ask today is simple,” Moore said. “We want to work together. We want to address this issue.”
For millions of residents across the DMV, relief from high electricity bills can’t come soon enough.