Enough Electricity on Hand for Winter, Grid Operator Says

VALLEY FORGE PA – Power producers should be able to generate enough energy this winter “to reliably meet” electricity demands across 13 states, including Pennsylvania, according to the grid’s operator.

Valley Forge-based PJM Interconnection operates and monitors the high-voltage electric power system that serves 67 million people. Given this winter’s “expected conditions,” PJM reports, the grid should be able to meet the region’s growth and electricity needs.

It also says that, if the system reaches its anticipated peak demand, the region’s power use “would set a new winter record.”

In addition to Pennsylvania, PJM serves all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

PJM observes that reserve margins of available electricity “continue to tighten as demand outpaces new power supplies.”

Increasing demand, continuing generator retirements, and the slow pace of new generator projects coming online are eroding its reserve margins, PJM claims. Meanwhile, it says, “the number of flexible generation resources that can respond quickly to PJM’s directions is decreasing.”

Photo by Andrey Metelev on Unsplash

Electricity Needs in Extreme Cold

Continued strong performance of existing power generators is a necessity, PJM adds, “particularly during periods of extreme cold.”

It acknowledges that transmission constraints – limits on the ability to move electricity from one area to another – could at times restrict PJM’s ability to deliver enough energy to some parts of the system. Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia might be most affected by those limits, it suggests.

Recent cold winters reflect a pattern for extreme weather, in addition to impacts of general demand growth.

PJM reached an all-time winter peak demand in January 2025. Earlier this year, PJM says, it “maintained reliability through the most prolonged period of extreme cold experienced since the 1990s.” Hourly winter peak loads exceeded benchmarks “for eight days straight from Jan. 26 to Feb. 2,” it says.

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