Pa. PUC "Doing Everything Within Our Authority" To Protect Customers & Reliability, As PUC Report Says Modeled Reliability Risk Is Nearly Six Times Worse Than PJM's Planning Standard Due To Data Center Growth

As the Pennsylvania PUC released a report from a consultant indicating that, by 2030, a modeled reliability risk is nearly six times worse than PJM's planning standard due to data center growth, Pennsylvania PUC Chair Steve DeFrank stated, "The PUC will continue doing everything within our authority to protect consumers and reliability, but this issue is bigger than the Commission".

"Pennsylvania's energy system is changing dramatically, and our energy policies need to evolve with it. We need policymakers, regulators, utilities, generators, consumer advocates and other stakeholders working together on a comprehensive approach that encourages economic growth, brings needed energy resources onto the grid, protects existing ratepayers and preserves reliability," DeFrank said

"This analysis sends a clear warning: electricity demand and supply are moving out of balance, and the status quo is not sustainable. We need urgent action at PJM and a broader Pennsylvania energy strategy that makes sure our supply of electricity keeps pace with demand," DeFrank said

The consultant's report stated, in a Reference scenario, which relies on PJM’s 2026 Load Forecast, the modeled 2030 LOLE [loss of load expectation] is 0.59, or nearly six times worse than the PJM planning criterion. "This result is mainly due to large-load additions stemming from data center additions, which are projected to surge in 2030," the report states

In 2030, the High Load and Low Supply scenario studied by the consultant (a worst-case future of higher-than-expected load additions and constrained resource deployment) has an LOLE of 13.20.

"This LOLE value is over 100 times worse than PJM’s planning criterion and indicates an expectation of more than 13 days with loss of load events per year," the report states

The report did not include any policy recommendations

Link to report