Allan Montanari, PhD

🔎 Navigating PJM’s Updated MOD-026 & MOD-027 Guidance ⚡ PJM Interconnection has issued updated guidance for Generator Owners (GOs) preparing NERC MOD-026 (Excitation Model Verification) and MOD-027 (Governor/Frequency Model Verification) submittals. These updates introduce greater rigor—especially for inverter-based resources—and place stronger emphasis on accurate, validated models. Key highlights from the guidance: ✅ PJM’s Acceptable Model List now defines which dynamic models are allowed—and flags those that must be replaced or submitted as User-Defined Models (UDMs). ✅ Inverter-Based Resources (IBRs), including solar and BESS, must now provide EMT models in addition to traditional phasor-based models. ✅ Submittals require a complete package: load flow files (.raw), dynamic models (.dyr), signed test reports, EMT models (for IBRs), and preferably a one-line diagram. ✅ PJM recommends self-review tests (fault ride-through, voltage step, governor response, frequency reference changes) to catch issues before formal review. ✅ PJM’s classification of models as “usable” or “not usable” means GOs have only 90 days to correct deficiencies. ⚠️ Challenges for GOs: Developing EMT models can be resource-heavy. Vendor coordination is critical for block diagrams and test data. The 90-day resubmittal clock is tight if delays occur. 💡 Best practices: Engage vendors early. Run PJM’s recommended self-review tests in PSSE and PSCAD™ tools. Document all procedures and secure signed reports. Monitor PJM’s acceptable model list for updates. At GridTech Solutions LLC, we help GOs navigate these requirements with: 🔹 Advanced model development & validation (PSSE, PSCAD™, PSLF and TSAT) 🔹 Test execution and field data alignment and test support 🔹 Regulatory compliance support for NERC standards 🔹 Risk mitigation before PJM’s formal review The bottom line: Accurate models are no longer optional—they’re essential for grid reliability and regulatory compliance. 📖 Read our detailed blog for insights on PJM’s MOD-026/027 updates and how to prepare: https://lnkd.in/gjfz2r44 🔗 Want to learn more?   🚀 Contact GridTech Solutions today for a compliance consultation!  📞 Contact us: 501-298-4400 ✉️ Email: info@gridtechsolution.com #GridReliability #PJM #NERC #MOD026 #MOD027 #PowerSystems #GridTechSolutions #Compliance

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PJM can quickly add cost-saving new electricity generation by improving the path for “energy-only” resources (those that seek energy resource interconnection service, or ERIS) to connect to the grid. This would help the regional transmission organization, which covers 13 states and Washington, D.C., to help deliver necessary power while maintaining affordability and reliability despite pressure from rapid electricity load growth and a slow interconnection process. ERIS resources can be deployed quickly and cost-effectively and contribute to a balanced mix of electricity generation. Reforming how they connect to the grid to match their speedy development potential can help gird operators looking for more power to meet growing electricity demand. https://ow.ly/VWqa50Z4qS9

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PJM Interconnection's newest ELCC ratings are apocalyptic cope. These ELCC (Effective Load Carrying Capacity) figures are derates to show how much help a given energy resource is during the high-load crunch times that they are needed most. For example, because these crunch times are usually in the evening now (when it's DARK), the ELCC of solar is near-zero. But now, PJM has up-rated the ELCC of demand response to 92%. PJM wants us to believe that in 2027/28, demand response, aka asking loads to cut their load in exchange for a cookie, is now a BETTER capacity resource than big batteries, better than fast-start gas turbines, better than every resource except nuclear. What changed? Nothing inherent to demand response. Instead, PJM has landed on demand response as the only option they have for managing new datacenter load growth. Because speeding up interconnection for new generation and transmission assets is too hard, apparently. Instead of fixing their internal processes, ACTUALLY trying new technologies, or telling state regulators to quit whining and get to work, PJM clings to the fantasy that their rickety capacity market can still solve their problems.

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For decades, the "steady hum" of traditional power plants was the backbone of the grid. But in today's energy landscape, that hum is being challenged by a need for extreme flexibility. See how we're modernizing the 2026 grid #ontheblog https://lnkd.in/dKBEJc-v

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Competitive transmission projects are about 30 percent less expensive than incumbent projects, according to an analysis released Tuesday by the R Street Institute. Similarly, R Street's analysis found that competitive transmission line projects get planned and built more quickly in four major grid regions compared with similar projects built by incumbent utilities. The analysis is significant. In April, Entergy, Xcel and seven other utility and transmission companies asked FERC to stop the competitive bidding process for regional transmission projects in MISO and SPP, saying that competitive bidding slows the transmission development by 16 to 20 months on average. “Our analysis found no evidence that competitive solicitations have added time to the overall transmission planning and development timelines relative to utility processes,” said Kent Chandler, a senior fellow at the R Street Institute and former chairman of the Kentucky Public Service Commission. More from Utility Dive: https://lnkd.in/gn5ZDwbH Full report from R Street can be found at: https://lnkd.in/gjqee5B8

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Energy Vault has joined forces with Jupiter Power LLC to install a 100-MW/200-MWh battery. The proposed facility will be located at a Jupiter-owned site in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region, Energy Vault said on Wednesday. #ERCOT #JupiterPower #EnergyVault #BESS https://lnkd.in/gvjVf_8b

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Power Strategy Must Move to the Front of Development Industry leaders increasingly recognize that power can no longer be treated as a downstream consideration. Projects that fail to secure flexible power pathways early risk falling behind on both schedule and scale Transformers sit at the center of this strategy. Virginia Transformer works alongside customers to design resilient power architectures that support rapid deployment, scalability, and long-term reliability. As the largest US-owned power transformer manufacturer in North America, we deliver the fastest lead times and proven performance across mission-critical environments. #PowerPlanning #MissionCritical #DataCenterDevelopment #EnergyResilience #IndustrialInfrastructure

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As energy transition to inverter-based resources occurs, reliability risk increases and requires additional investment to mitigate. These resources, including utility-scale wind, solar, and battery systems, play a direct role in the reliability of the Bulk Power System. In this paper, John Peiserich and John Dulude discuss: • Energy resilience and reliability • What load shedding is, and why it is used • Grid reliability and how to define acceptable risk of system failure • Updating considerations for grid planning with modern power systems • Prior power grid failures • What needs to change to improve energy reliability and resilience To learn more, visit: https://lnkd.in/gZCKXBeX #FindYourExpert #EnergyTransition #EnergyReliability #RenewableEnergy #NationalEnergyAwarenessMonth

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One emerging challenge in grid studies: modeling assumptions developed for synchronous generation don’t always capture the behavior of inverter-based resources. As IBR penetration continues to grow across the Western Interconnection, modeling practices are evolving. Traditional approaches don’t always reflect the dynamics of modern inverter-based plants, hybrid facilities, and increasingly complex grid conditions. As a result, utilities, developers, and regulators are placing greater emphasis on model fidelity, validation, and lifecycle consistency. One key takeaway: modeling is no longer just a study deliverable. It’s becoming a discipline that spans the entire project lifecycle, from early feasibility through commissioning and long-term operations. Our team recently explored how modeling practices are evolving as inverter-based resources become a larger share of the generation mix. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/g7Jm6RqJ #PowerSystems #GridReliability #IBR #PowerEngineering

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Let’s fix the easiest thing first. Nowhere else in the US can power importers get delivery for free except between PJM and MISO. This is an unjustified harm to customers in zones that do more delivering than importing. FERC did that when no one was overtly recommending it, and FERC can fix it. FERC could probably even do it on their own (lawyers?), but they would like to have some parties file a complaint. PJM and MISO would charge a system rate for transactions exiting their systems to serve load in the other RTO. The receiver RTO would collect the charges from the customer that receives the power, and pay the other RTO. This is what happens everywhere else in the country. Since this change would be to help level the zonal transmission rates each RTO would allocate the revenue from each exit transaction to customers in the zones that have higher than average License Plate rates in proportion to their system’s power flow caused by the transaction, times the miles of impact (MW-miles), and further in proportion to how much each impacted zone’s rate is above the average. That would make a start at least toward fixing the unfairness in the present regime. The debate about creating a fair overall rate design could be carried on while this reasonable adjustment does its part. Please Like and comment if you think this is a good idea.💡

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This afternoon, the PJM Interconnection's Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) zone entered EEA2, making public calls for conservation and curtailment due to “a power plant experiencing an unplanned disconnection from the BGE electric system”. With peak demand forecast significantly lower than the levels seen in late July’s heat wave, this event speaks to the fragility of a system under duress. Immediately following the morning disconnection, there was a small rise in local congestion, but it wasn’t until load ramped up into the afternoon that prices signaled the gap in power flows to meet local demand. At 08:46, an emergency outage was reported on the Brandon Shores 230kV network, and multiple lines on the Brandon Shores transmission system were placed on emergency outage. Following these outages, PJM issued Pre-Emergency Load Management Reduction actions, activating demand response by 10 AM. PJM has issued these alerts several times this summer, but even during late June’s heat wave, demand response was not activated until the afternoon. The plant at the center of these transmission outages, Brandon Shores, has been a high-profile facet of PJM’s growing capacity crunch. The plant’s operator, Talen Energy, sought to retire the plant as well as neighboring Herbet Wagner at the start of this summer. After identifying numerous transmission violations, PJM entered into reliability must-run agreements with Talen, to the tune of $180 million per year, to keep both plants online until May 2029. As temperatures continue to climb across the Mid-Atlantic, track the impact of load conservation efforts and pricing impacts in BGE with our PJM live page https://lnkd.in/e-KmEmNB

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FERC gave PJM 60 days to propose changes to its interconnection rules. Some of them include: Striking language that says PJM must only make “reasonable efforts” to meet certain deadlines; Describing how network and substation upgrade study costs will be allocated; Explaining how network system upgrade costs will be shared; Requiring transmission owners to use operating assumptions in their interconnection studies that reflect the planned charging behavior of battery storage projects; and, Requiring that interconnection studies include an evaluation of grid-enhancing technologies.

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Huge news for grid reliability! PJM Interconnection recently announced that more than 800 new generation projects, capable of generating 220 GW of electricity, are seeking to connect to the PJM grid under its reformed interconnection process, representing a massive pipeline potential of new power coming online to meet growing demand. To put this into perspective, the 2025 summer peak generating capacity of the PJM grid was 162 GW. Even more important: it’s a diverse mix of generation, from solar and storage to natural gas and other dispatchable resources, showing that competitive markets are responding to market signals and bringing forward the diverse resources customers need. Competition is doing what it’s supposed to do and that’s a win for grid reliability and ratepayers. https://bit.ly/48CpWei #PJM #powergeneration #gridreliability #competitivemarket

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https://lnkd.in/euXcVrpD ⚡ PJM Capacity Auction Prices Surge to Record High – What It Means for Economic Growth PJM Interconnection’s latest Base Residual Auction for the 2026/27 delivery year cleared at the maximum allowable price of $329.17/MW-day, up 22% from last year’s price of $269.92/MW-day. This is the highest system-wide clearing price in over a decade, reflecting tightening capacity conditions across the 13-state PJM region as energy demand continues to rise—driven by data center growth, electrification, and the need for reliable power during extreme weather events. ⸻ 💼 Economic Impact 🔹 Infrastructure Investment: High capacity prices send a strong market signal for investment in new generation assets—supporting construction, skilled labor, and manufacturing. 🔹 Job Creation & Local Growth: New and existing facilities responding to these price signals will drive economic activity in communities throughout the PJM footprint. 🔹 Grid Resilience: Higher auction prices reinforce the value of firm, dispatchable power—essential to economic stability and regional competitiveness. 🔹 Business & Consumer Impact: While some utilities will see modest increases in capacity-related costs, the long-term benefit is enhanced grid reliability—critical for commercial operations, industrial growth, and economic expansion. Trend: Prices have risen more than 10x since 2023/24, underscoring the urgency to build more reliable generation to meet accelerating demand. ⸻ 📈 Bottom Line Capacity prices at the cap are not just a market signal—they’re a warning: We must build. The economy depends on reliable, around-the-clock electricity to power manufacturing, AI, data centers, logistics, and every corner of modern life. As PJM’s markets tighten, regions that invest in dependable generation capacity will be best positioned to grow, attract industry, and safeguard their economic future.

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As June’s extreme heat pushed PJM energy demand to the third- and fourth-highest all-time peak loads, PJM worked successfully with its generation and transmission owners to maintain the reliable flow of power to customers across 13 states and Washington, D.C. PJM coordinated reliable operations keeping fans and air conditioners on for 67 million people in its footprint amid conditions that stressed the grid at peaks over 160 GW – the highest peaks in 14 years. These efforts included extensive communications in advance and during the events Read more at PJM Inside Lines. https://lnkd.in/e6GduZTs

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The May 8 PJM Interconnection Planning Committee meeting included several notable updates related to interconnection processes, inverter-based resources, and Manual 14H revisions. Topics discussed included: • Retirement of Manuals 14A and 14E into Manual 14H • Updates to jurisdictional determination requirements • A new expedited RGIS transfer process • Proposed adoption of IEEE 2800 requirements for IBRs • NJ State Agreement termination updates Written by Faizan Hajam, PhD, this summary provides a concise overview of the latest Planning Committee discussions and upcoming timelines. Read the full article, linked in the comments below. #PJMInterconnection #PJMPlanningCommittee #Interconnection #ZeroEmissionGrid #ZEG #InverterBasedResources #Manual14H

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🔌 MISO & SPP Plan Major Transmission Upgrades MISO and SPP are exploring 500 kV projects across the southern seam to improve grid reliability, reduce congestion, and support renewable integration. The draft plan presents two options: *Core (~$1.3B) - targeted and flexible *Core+ (~$3.6B) - broader upgrades with higher capacity and stronger long-term benefits Which approach will best balance reliability, cost, and renewable growth? As these projects move forward, strategic planning and collaboration will be key to unlocking a stronger, more resilient grid. https://lnkd.in/dYsvVmPS #Energy #GridReliability #TransmissionPlanning #MISO #SPP #Renewables

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