PJM Board Approves $490 Million In Transmission Investment
VALLEY FORGE, Pa., Dec. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — The PJM Interconnection Board today authorized new regional transmission projects to strengthen the high-voltage electricity infrastructure at a net increase of $490 million. These changes resolve reliability violations and offer market efficiencies.
With these plan changes, PJM has authorized $28.27 billion in transmission additions and upgrades since the first plan was approved in 2000.
This past year, PJM opened two windows for competitive bidding for transmission projects as part of compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order 1000, which enables non-incumbent and incumbent transmission owners to propose solutions. The first window in June sought solutions to address potential reliability, thermal and voltage violations identified throughout the PJM region. In the first 2015 window, 91 proposals were offered, and PJM selected 19 in October. Today, the board approved an additional proposal from the original 91 to address potential reliability violations in the AEP transmission zone.
The second proposal window in 2015 opened in August to address potential reliability, thermal and voltage violations identified for additional reliability criteria tests that were not included in the first window. Of 23 proposals submitted, PJM staff today recommended six for inclusion in the Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, and they were approved by the board.
