The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is set to take action by June 2026 on its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANOPR) concerning the interconnection of large loads, such as data centers, to the interstate transmission system. This comes amid growing concerns about the impact of these power-hungry facilities on grid stability and the emerging threat of AI-powered cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The ANOPR, initiated by the Department of Energy in October 2025, seeks to standardize interconnection procedures for loads greater than 20 megawatts.
The urgency of these reforms is underscored by incidents like the "pytorch_no_powerplant_blowup=1" command, which runs in some frontier data centers. This command ensures GPUs continue dummy workloads after real tasks, preventing sudden, massive power drops that could destabilize the grid, as highlighted by Ben Schifman. "Thousands of GPUs stopping at once flatlined MWs of power in a fraction of a second — risking major damage to the grid," Schifman stated in a recent social media post.
Beyond accidental power swings, the tweet warns of a more sinister threat: adversaries hijacking data center load-management systems to cause widespread blackouts. Such capabilities, once largely the domain of sophisticated state actors, are now accessible through advanced AI models. Schifman specifically cited "Anthropic’s Mythos model," which reportedly "found thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities across every major OS and browser in weeks." While not publicly available, the diffusion of such cyber offense capabilities is anticipated.
In response to these challenges, Schifman proposes that FERC leverage its existing large load interconnection docket to implement a "speed-for-security bargain." This would offer data centers an accelerated interconnection path if they agree to be curtailable and adhere to robust cyber and physical security standards. Furthermore, he advocates for directing the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) to establish enforceable security standards, moving beyond current voluntary guidance.
FERC's ANOPR already includes principles like standardized, generator-style interconnection procedures for large loads, jurisdictional scope, study rules, cost responsibility, and an expedited pathway for curtailable loads. These measures are designed to alleviate growing interconnection queues that push data centers behind the meter and potentially outside the U.S. However, Schifman argues that these steps are insufficient if data centers remain vulnerable to hacking or exploitation as weapons against the grid.
The Commission has been actively addressing large load growth, including requiring PJM Interconnection to implement transparent rules for co-located loads and approving Southwest Power Pool’s High Impact Large Load (HILL) initiative. These actions aim to ensure timely and orderly integration of significant electrical loads while maintaining affordable, reliable, and secure electricity. FERC's upcoming decision in June is expected to build upon these efforts, with the potential to significantly impact the future of grid resilience and cybersecurity in the AI era.
