The National Weather Service forecasts hotter-than-normal conditions this summer in the PJM region’s mid-Atlantic and southern states, as well as West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Typical temperatures are forecast for most of the Midwest.
PJM expects energy demand, or load, to peak at approximately 156,400 MW this summer.
PJM has approximately 180,200 MW of generation capacity to serve demand, as well as approximately 7,800 MW of contracted demand response.
Demand response programs pay customers who have opted in to reduce their electricity use in times of system emergencies.
PJM should have adequate reserves to maintain reliability under expected conditions and will call on demand response and implement emergency procedures as necessary under less likely, more stressed conditions, including extreme heat or poor generation performance resulting from equipment outages, low solar/wind production, or other more extreme weather effects.
PJM called on Non-Emergency Demand Response six times last summer.
During an early season heat wave last year, PJM’s summer peak reached peaks of approximately 161,300 MW on June 23 and 160,900 MW on June 24.
Those were the third- and fifth-highest summer peaks in PJM’s history.
Demand response helped to control peak electricity use on those days to maintain reliability.
PJM’s all-time record summer peak load was recorded in 2006 at 165,563 MW.
PJM’s planning for this summer includes unlikely but plausible scenarios of up to 169,100 MW of demand.
PJM will have fewer resources to export electricity to neighboring systems during emergencies as a result of tightening reserve margins.
PJM has traditionally been a net exporter during extreme weather emergencies, and PJM has also relied upon its neighbors for support on multiple occasions in the past.
“While we expect to operate reliably this summer, the outlook resembles last year’s and reflects a new reality – continued load growth driven by data centers that is outpacing the addition of new generation,” said Michael Bryson, Sr. Vice President – Operations. “This results in tightening operating reserve margins and greater risk.”
A dedicated team of operators uses sophisticated technology to balance supply and demand and direct the power grid 24/7 from PJM’s control rooms.
They prepare multiple potential scenarios that could be impacted by weather, emergency conditions or equipment failure.
They adjust resource output with changes in demand and ensure that no transmission lines or facilities are overloaded.
The team also watches for unusual conditions and reacts to them to protect the electricity supply.
Click Here for the PJM announcement.
Related Articles This Week:
-- PA House Passes Bills To Establish Framework For Developing Clean, Safe Geothermal Energy, Advanced Transmission Line Technology, Retooling PA Energy Financing Authority [PaEN]
-- PA House Energy Committee Reports Out Bills To Authorize Virtual Power Plants, Address Connecting New Generation Quickly To Improve Grid Reliability [PaEN]
-- Environmental Advocates Urge Lawmakers To Pass Bills Giving PUC Authority To Regulate Data Centers, Prohibit Nondisclosure Agreements, Promote Clean Energy To Reduce Energy Costs [PaEN]
-- Guest Essay: Every Community Evaluating An A.I. Data Center Proposal Should Ask - What Financial Instrument Is Posted Before Construction That Guarantees The Site Will Be Remediated If The Facility Becomes Obsolete, Is Abandoned Or Closes? - By PA Data Center Accountability, Carbon County [PaEN]
-- Washington & Jefferson Center For Energy Finds Communities Are Unprepared For The Rapid Industrialization Brought By A.I. Data Centers And Their Impacts; Proposals Are Outpacing Regulatory, Planning Processes [PaEN]
-- PJM Interconnection Prepared To Meet Summer Peak Energy Demands With Adequate Resources Under Expected Conditions [PaEN]
-- Sen. Laughlin Introduces Resolution Urging PA To Enter Into Multistate Compacts To Oversee Policies, Procedures For Planning, Siting, Construction, Operation Of Interstate Electric Transmission Lines [PaEN]
-- PUC Announces 2 June 30 Hearings On Proposed PPL Utilities Transmission Line Projects In Hazle Twp., Luzerne County Serving Project Hazelnut A.I. Data Centers [PaEN]
-- Public Utility Commission Sets July 10 Telephonic Hearing On PPL Condemnation Of 30 Properties For The Sugarloaf 500/230KV Transmission Line In Luzerne County To Serve Data Centers [PaEN]
-- PA Solar Center: Learn How To Advocate For REAL Energy Independence For PA During Online Workshops June 8, 15 [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Spotlight PA: Shapiro Demands A Stop To ‘Excessive’ Electric, Natural Gas, Water Utility Rate Increases, But Has Little Authority To Force Change
-- LancasterOnline: PPL Electric Default Service Customers To See 1.5% Increase In What They Pay For Electricity They Use Starting June 1
-- TribLive Editorial: Rising Electric Bills Leave Pennsylvanians Powerless
-- Pottstown Mercury: Details Emerge About Threats Related To Proposed Twp. Limerick A.I. Data Center Project In Montgomery County; Some Threats Read At Tuesday Meeting https://tinyurl.com/mr4yxm7s [PDF of Article]
-- PA Capital-Star: PJM Grid Manager Says Developers Are Proposing 220 GW Of New Power Projects [Decisions On Which Go Ahead Will Not Be Made Until Feb. 2028, Then They Have To Be Financed, Sited, Built]
-- Utility Dive: PA House Unanimously Passes Bill To Require Utilities To Incorporate Review Of Advanced Transmission Technology In Transmission Line Proposals
-- Utility Dive: North American Electric Reliability Corp. Issues Level 3 Alert, Mandates Action To Address Sudden A.I. Data Center Load Losses
-- Utility Dive: American Electric Power Eyes Exit From PJM, SPP Over Slow Connection Of New Generation In Face Of A.I. Data Center Demand [AEP operates in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, WV In PJM]
[Posted: May 7, 2026] PA Environment Digest
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