PJM Interconnection Issues Grid Alert Amid Warm Weather and Maintenance
Rising temperatures and ongoing maintenance closures could drive the power system near its maximum thresholds, according to an advisory issued this week by the regional grid manager overseeing a large portion of the mid-Atlantic and Midwest. On Monday, PJM Interconnection notified electrical utilities and power facility owners to prepare measures preventing rotating outages as electricity demand nears current system limits, as detailed by penncapital-star.com. The grid operator called on plants to suspend maintenance and keep generators online where possible to ensure system stability through Wednesday.
Department of Energy Emergency Order and Generation Capacity Reductions
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued an emergency order on Monday at PJM’s request, allowing the operator to compel power plants to run as needed, including exceeding air pollution limits. The directive also permits PJM to direct data centers and other large electricity users to switch to on-site backup generators before initiating rolling blackouts or curtailing electricity exports outside the coverage area. PJM expects generation capacity to be reduced by 62,000 megawatts during the alert. In a Sunday letter to the DOE, PJM warned that combined factors of increased demand, maintenance, and export obligations would leave the grid within 900 megawatts of its reserve margin, which is roughly equivalent to a single large power plant.
Infrastructure Strains and Renewable Energy Interconnection Backlogs
PJM operates across 13 states from New Jersey to Illinois and from the New York-Pennsylvania border to North Carolina, serving 67 million electricity customers. Spokesman Jeffrey Shields said base load electricity demand is increasing faster than new generating capacity can be added, while unpredictable weather patterns reduce time available for maintenance. Meanwhile, Jon Gordon, senior director at Advanced Energy United, blamed the crisis on PJM’s handling of a flood of renewable energy projects seeking grid connection. PJM closed its interconnection queue from 2022 until earlier this year to clear a backlog, and in July fell 6,800 megawatts short of its goal to procure standby capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions About the PJM Grid Alert
What geographic area does the PJM electricity grid cover?
PJM Interconnection serves 67 million electricity customers across 13 states, stretching from New Jersey to Illinois and from the New York-Pennsylvania border down to North Carolina.
How close did power supplies get to the grid’s reserve margin?
PJM warned the Department of Energy that increased demand, maintenance outages, and export obligations would leave the system within 900 megawatts of its reserve margin, which is roughly equivalent to a single large power plant.
What specific powers does the Department of Energy emergency order grant?
The DOE order allows PJM to order power plants to operate—even if it means exceeding air pollution limits—and lets the operator direct large users like data centers to switch to on-site backup generators.