White House Backs State Govs In Push For PJM Changes

However, energy regulatory experts contacted by Law360…questioned how much the White House-governor collaboration will move the needle on the power demand-power price conundrum within PJM.

“The principles are suggestions to PJM, and the RTO is under no obligation to accept them,” said Kent Chandler, a resident senior fellow in energy and environmental policy at the R Street Institute and former chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission…

Chandler, who also led a policy and advocacy coalition of state utility regulators from PJM member states, known as the Organization of PJM States, said the governors aren’t offering much substance, because they have no real authority over their state public utility commissions, or PUCs.

“The reality is that the governors have little hard power in this area,” Chandler told Law360 on Friday. “They don’t set energy policy, don’t direct PUCs, and have no role in governance in the RTO. Their primary tool is the bully pulpit, so they decide to upgrade their stage to the biggest pulpit in the world — the White House.”