PJM Interconnection, the 13-state regional grid operator that includes New Jersey, opened up its interconnection queue this week for the first time since 2022.
The opening could eventually impact consumer energy bills in the region, as supply has failed to keep up with rising demand driven by data center development. The interconnection queue is a process that a developer uses to connect new power generation to the grid. After a developer submits an interconnection request to PJM, the grid operator analyzes the project’s impacts and whether transmission upgrades are needed.
“A well-functioning queue isn’t going to lower rates at this point, but it may slow the increases or lessen the increases” for ratepayers in the future, said Jon Gordon, senior policy director at energy trade group Advanced Energy United.
A recap: PJM moved to address its backlog of interconnect requests in 2020. As part of its efforts to reform its “first come, first served” interconnection queue, it paused all new interconnection requests as it worked through its backlog.
