HARRISBURG – State Senators Gene Yaw (R-23) and Nick Miller (D-14) today announced plans for bipartisan legislation to improve electric load forecasting, the process by which future demand on the power grid is accessed.
Currently, PJM, the organization that manages the mid-Atlantic power grid, relies heavily on forecasts submitted by Pennsylvania’s electric utilities to plan for future needs across the entire regional grid. The legislators’ proposal will strengthen Pennsylvania’s oversight, ensuring transparency, accuracy and affordability for ratepayers.
“As demand continues to grow rapidly, it is critical that we have reliable, transparent data to guide long-term planning,” Yaw said. “This legislation will ensure the Public Utility Commission (PUC) has the tools it needs to validate forecasts and protect ratepayers from unnecessary costs.”
“Now more than ever, we must prioritize consumers and the future of energy in Pennsylvania,” said Miller. “This bipartisan legislation will enhance forecasting tools to facilitate effective planning and cost management, ultimately benefiting Pennsylvania consumers as electricity demand continues to rise. We find ourselves at a pivotal moment where the need for increased energy generation is clear, and it is important that we seek solutions now that do not adversely affect consumers.”
Electricity demand across the broader PJM region is skyrocketing, driven by the expansion of data centers, the rise of electric vehicles and the electrification of homes and commercial buildings. PJM recently projected that by 2030, demand will increase by 32 gigawatts, 30 of which will come from data centers alone.
Forecasting helps determine how much power infrastructure is needed and directly influences decisions that impact consumer costs. However, the current process for submitting this information lacks transparency and a recent report from the Pennsylvania PUC revealed major inconsistencies. Wide disparities in demand projections raise serious questions about how utilities are evaluating new service requests and communicating with PJM.
To ensure accurate load forecasting in the future, the proposal from Yaw and Miller will authorize the PUC to:
- Review and validate load forecasts submitted to PJM;
- Coordinate with PJM and other state regulators to ensure accuracy and prevent duplicative counting; and
- Access all relevant materials necessary to carry out this oversight.
Yaw and Miller said this legislation is a critical step toward protecting consumers, strengthening grid reliability and restoring public trust in how major energy decisions are made.
For more state-related news and information, constituents can visit Senator Yaw’s website at www.SenatorGeneYaw.com or Sen. Miller’s website at www.pasenatormiller.com.
CONTACT:
Elizabeth Weitzel (Yaw)
717-787-3280
Gail Vivar (Miller)
201-870-2378