Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw has responded to concerns about rising electricity bills in the state, addressing recent criticism directed at PJM, the regional transmission organization that manages the power grid for Pennsylvania and much of the eastern United States.
In a statement, Sen. Yaw said, “PJM is one of nine regional transmission operators (RTOs) in the United States and the largest in the nation. It coordinates electricity for 13 states and the District of Columbia, serving roughly 67 million people. Headquartered in Valley Forge, PJM has focused on one mission for nearly 100 years: keeping the lights on by ensuring electricity is delivered where it’s needed, when it’s needed, in the proper amount.”
He emphasized that PJM does not own power plants or transmission lines but functions as a coordinator for electricity distribution. “Blaming PJM for high electric rates is like blaming an air traffic controller for the price of an airline ticket,” Yaw stated.
Yaw attributed increasing costs to policy decisions over the past decade that have led to reduced supply of reliable energy sources. He explained that several states within PJM’s region have adopted renewable energy mandates favoring intermittent sources such as wind and solar power. As a result, he said, “hundreds of megawatts of coal-fired thermal generation were shut down without being replaced by an equivalent amount of new, reliable capacity.”
According to Yaw, this shift has caused supply shortages while demand remains high, leading to higher prices for consumers. He warned against suggestions that Pennsylvania should leave PJM: “Early estimates indicate withdrawing from PJM would cost ratepayers more than $2 billion.” He questioned how Pennsylvania would then attract new power generation or manage its own electricity auctions.
Yaw argued that restructuring or leaving PJM will not resolve rising costs unless new baseload generation is built to increase supply. “The real drivers of higher electric bills are the decisions that have reduced dependable generation without ensuring adequate replacements,” he said.
He concluded with a call to action: “If we want affordable, reliable electricity, we must focus on increasing supply, not searching for scapegoats. Only then can we protect ratepayers and maintain the dependable energy system Pennsylvanians expect and deserve. We need to stop pontificating and start building new dispatchable generation, yesterday.”
Senator Gene Yaw represents Bradford, Lycoming, Sullivan, Tioga and Union counties in Pennsylvania and serves as chairman of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.
