NEWS: PJM has acknowledged that investors are feeling spooked—and that maintaining reliability will take a lot more teamwork.

Let it out: As we reported last month, PJM is struggling to clear its interconnection queue, align with state officials, and inspire confidence in investors. Now, the org is getting vulnerable: “Our region is falling short of what this moment demands,” PJM wrote in its new five-year plan. “We hear the expectation for PJM’s clear direction and leadership on the grid’s future, which should be informed by the voice of the consumer.”

What’s next: PJM plans to 1) modernize operations, including “enhanced deployments of AI and automation” in the control room 2) advance “urgent” market reforms with states and members 3) speed up transmission and interconnection processes and 4) fix its fraught stakeholder process.

The throughline: State officials and consumer advocates have argued that PJM must affirm its duty to the public interest…and the grid operator is listening. 👂