PHILADELPHIA – For the first time ever, representatives from 13 states on the PJM power grid met at a conference in Philadelphia Monday.
It comes amid concerns over higher electric prices. PJM is the governing body for the entire power grid across 13 states, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In his address at the first PJM Summit at the National Constitution Center, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro explained the concerns he’s heard from his constituents.
“I’m privileged to represent 13 million Pennsylvanians, and I can tell you they can’t afford never-ending price increases because of PJM’s policies,” said Shapiro.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy agreed in a recorded video.
“Our nation’s hard-working families are being failed by the status quo. We need to build a system that is fairer and more transparent for the people we serve,” said Murphy.
Just this year, energy prices have shot up across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. PPL saw a 16% rate increase, and JCP&L saw a 19.6% percent increase. Shapiro said governors need to be involved in deciding rates moving forward, or else.
“Pennsylvania is the second largest net-energy producer in the entire country, and by far the largest generator of energy in the entire PJM network. If PJM refuses to change, we will be forced to go in a different direction,” said Shapiro.
PJM CEO Manu Asthana said part of the cost increase has been tied to grid upgrades that are needed to accommodate new data centers for the growth of Artificial Intelligence.
“We’ve talked about affordability today, and I think it’s really important,” said Asthana. “But I also think we should talk about what is really at stake here for us as a country… I do believe the emergence of another intelligence that will surpass our own is within the next decade perhaps, and whoever controls this technology, as you can imagine, is going to control the new world order.”
A new world order that Shapiro hopes includes affordable energy for Pennsylvanians.
“Working together, I know we can reform this system to give states more say, to generate more power more quickly, and to hold down costs,” said Shapiro.