• 829 TWh Energy Demand
  • 187.3 GW Installed Capacity
  • 5 % Renewable Share

PJM

PJM is North America’s largest power market, covering all or a portion of 13 states and Washington DC, and serving a population of 65 million. Demand growth varies substantially across PJM’s footprint with more rapid growth in the southeast due to data center demand. Historically coal and nuclear have been the primary source of supply though low-cost gas from the Marcellus shale has allowed natural gas to displace coal in recent years. Renewables continue to make up a small share (<5%) of generation.

  • Total Capacity
  • Total Generation
Monitoring Analytics, 2019

Total
Capacity
187 GW

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Market Design

How is the market structured?

PJM is structured as a competitive wholesale market with energy transacted on a day-ahead and real-time (5 minute) basis. Capacity is sold in annual auctions, 3 years ahead of the commitment period. PJM also operates several markets for ancillary services.

PJM covers all or part of thirteen states (Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia) as well as the District of Colombia. PJM is interconnected with New York to the north, MISO to the West and TVA/Duke to the south.

The main pricing hub in PJM is West Hub, represented by a collection of nodes stretching from Pennsylvania to Washington DC. Nodal pricing exists throughout PJM with pricing varying with local supply/demand conditions as well as transmission considerations more generally. Nodal pricing is aggregated to calculate energy prices for 22 separate energy zones, as well as the energy price at interconnection points with neighboring regions.

Buyers and sellers can hedge their exposure in the forward market within a ~5 year window via over the counter trading platforms.

Many consumers receive power from their local utility (the utility covering the geographic area in which the load is located). Consumers can also opt to buy power directly from a generator, or through a retailer (in states where competitive retail markets exist) though the utility will continue to charge certain fees (i.e. transmission/distribution/other system fees).

Currently, the following PJM states offer retail choice: Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

In general, a bill can be broken into three components: generation, transmission and distribution. Generation costs are broadly correlated with wholesale energy prices, transmission costs are socialized across all consumers, and distribution costs vary based on the local cost of each utility. Other system and social charges (such as to support energy efficiency programs) are generally socialized across consumers and are also reflected on the bill from the local utility.

In the US, renewable generation is certified and tracked using RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates). One REC is issued for every MWh of eligible renewable energy that is delivered to the electric grid. A REC contains unique identifying details of the energy generated, including the renewable fuel type, project name and location, the vintage of the project and the generation, and serial number.

Within PJM, the Generation Attribute Tracking System (GATS) is used to track generation ownership and attributes, including RECs.

How are RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) procured? Through market transactions or long-term contracts.

Are renewable Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) available? Yes

Are Green Tariffs available? Yes, Green Tariffs are available in Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.

System Operator:

  • PJM

Key Government Departments:

  • State energy departments which oversee policy related to power markets within their state.
  • Public Service/Utility Commissions which regulate and oversee the electricity industry in their state.

Regulators:

  • The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the federal agency that regulates the transmission and wholesale sales of electricity in interstate commerce.
  • The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) is a not-for-profit international regulatory authority whose mission is to assure the reliability and security of the bulk power system in North America.

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