PA Environment Digest Blog: PA Elected Officials, Consumer, Clean Energy Advocates Demand Electric Grid Operator PJM Act To Hold Down Electricity Costs

On May 28, consumer and clean energy advocates from Pennsylvania and New Jersey gathered outside the headquarters of electric grid manager PJM Interconnection in Montgomery County to urge PJM leadership to do more to protect family budgets and bring more clean, affordable energy to the electric grid as quickly as possible.

Families and small businesses across the region are about to be hit with increases in electric bills of as much as $30 more per month starting in June, the groups said.

June’s electric bill increases are expected to be only the beginning if PJM does not reform its practices to keep up with rising demand for electricity from large data centers coming online in the coming years, said the groups.

Speakers urged lawmakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and other PJM states to continue to put pressure on PJM to reform its decision-making and practices, including clearing the nearly 3,000 backlogged energy projects, most of them renewable energy projects, that are waiting for approval to connect to the electrical grid.

“Let’s be clear, our region’s upcoming electricity rate hikes are not due to MAGA’s manufactured ‘clean energy mandate’ - there is no such thing. These rate hikes are because of the greed of PJM Interconnection and some of its corporate members, and their failure to connect cheaper, cleaner energy that would provide much needed relief to ratepayers. Clean energy is cheaper, period. If PJM connected more clean energy to our grid and reform its process, the average New Jersey home would save $400 annually,” said Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Director of the NJ Sierra Club.

“PJM is relying on outdated, inefficient, expensive, and dirty energy sources to inflate prices and gouge customers to maximize profit,” continued Ramos-Busot. “Today, we are here outside of their headquarters calling on PJM to institute massive queue reform to move clean projects forward, not hand out fast passes to the fossil fuel industry that skyrocket prices for ratepayers.”

"We have an urgent responsibility to greatly increase the renewable energy sources in our grid, both to care for creation and to care for each other,” said Rev. Nathaniel Mahlberg of the United Church of Christ in Valley Forge and POWER Interfaith. “PJM has the power and the means to do so, but its skewed priorities are doing harm to ratepayers and the environment."

“PJM’s dysfunction means low-income folks pay more for dirty energy,” added Patrick Houston, Campaign Manager, HERE 4 Climate Justice. “That’s not fair. But it is avoidable. PJM needs to get serious about approving clean energy projects that create jobs and cut pollution. Until then, PJMs delay on renewables—and their default to fossil gas—may force more low-income folks in Philly, and beyond, to have to choose between keeping the lights on or the fridge full.”

Renewable energy like solar and wind is now cheaper than other energy sources. Combined with energy storage, it can deliver power more reliably than ever.

But currently, less than 5% of the PJM region’s electricity is powered by cheaper, home-grown renewable energy sources.

Advocates were joined by PA Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia), who has introduced legislation (House Bill 782) to end secret voting on regional energy policies by members of PJM by requiring electric utilities to disclose their recorded votes and explain how their vote was in the public interest.

“Decisions by PJM and its members directly impact people’s electricity bill and our commonwealth’s transition to affordable clean energy,” said Rep. Rabb. “Allowing these secret votes with no accountability is akin to the fox guarding the hen house. The people have a right to know about the decisions that are being made behind closed doors – especially as those decisions impact our policies and people’s paychecks.”

Speakers highlighted steps by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and some other elected officials in the PJM region who similarly are pressuring PJM to institute reforms to protect consumers, hold down electricity costs, and strengthen grid reliability.

They urged more elected leaders across PJM states to join those efforts to prevent future price hikes down the road while ensuring a reliable, sustainable electric grid.

NewsClips:

-- WHYY: Electricity Bills In PA, NJ, DE To Rise Starting June 1; Advocates Say More Renewables Would Lower Future Costs

-- Post-Gazette - Anya Litvak: Electric Bills In PA Are Going Up Next Month, Your Utility Can’t Help It

-- WVIA: Bradford, Northumberland, Tioga And Union Utility Customers Face Rate Hikes

-- PUC Reminder Of June Hearings On Proposed 11% Columbia Gas Rate Increase

Resource Links - Lightning Energy Plan:

-- Gov. Shapiro: Lightning Plan Tax Credit Bill, Community Energy Pass PA House [PaEN]

-- House, Senate Members Introduce Gov. Shapiro's 'Lightning' Energy Plan To Lower Energy Costs, Create Jobs, Protect Pennsylvania From Global Energy Instability [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Launches Legislative Push for 'Lightning Plan’ To Build More Energy Projects, Speed Up Permitting, Lower Costs, Create Jobs For Pennsylvanians [PaEN]

Resource Links - Electric Grid:

-- House Committee Told PA Needs An Energy Policy, Doing Nothing Means We Are Going To Run Out Of Power; Overreliance On One Fuel-- Gas-- Is Raising Electricity Prices [PaEN]

-- PUC Urges Electricity Customers To Start Shopping, Conserve Energy To Help Avoid Impact Of June 1 Rate Increases Of Between 5% and 16% On Most Electric Bills [PaEN]