Governor Josh Shapiro is putting pressure on PJM Interconnection, the operator of the nation’s largest electric grid, headquartered in Audubon, writes Peter Hall for Maryland Matters.
Shapiro spoke at an energy conference, warning PJM that if they don’t move more quickly to address rising consumer costs, Pennsylvania could consider leaving the consortium.
“We need to be thinking about consumers and their costs,” Shapiro said. “Something that PJM, I think, doesn’t really spend a whole lot of time focused on.”
According to Shapiro, peak energy use is projected to increase by 20% over the next decade. This is largely due to the growth of AI-driven infrastructure. He criticized PJM’s backlog of energy projects waiting for approval.
Pennsylvania isn’t the only state sounding the alarm. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy joined Shapiro in warning that PJM’s delays are raising bills and threatening reliability. Critics also called out PJM’s “black box” voting system, where utility companies cast secret votes that influence rates for 65 million people.
PJM Interconnection was founded nearly a century ago and now manages power for all or parts of 13 states. While its leaders argue reforms are already underway, Shapiro and fellow governors say the pace isn’t fast enough to protect consumers.
Learn more about the battle between Abington’s Josh Shapiro and Audubon’s PJM Interconnection in Maryland Matters.
