FERC Investigates PJM's Backup Power Pricing Plot Twist
Published Date: 10/6/2026
Notice
Summary
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is checking if PJM Interconnection’s new rules for buying backup power are fair and legal. This affects energy companies and customers in the PJM region, with possible changes to how costs are shared. If refunds are needed, they start from October 6, 2026, and anyone interested has 21 days to speak up.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Investigation of PJM Backup-Power Rules
If you are an energy company or a customer in the PJM region, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission opened an investigation on September 29, 2026 into PJM’s proposed changes to its Open Access Transmission Tariff and Reliability Assurance Agreement to establish a Reliability Backstop Procurement. The Commission will decide whether those changes are unjust, unreasonable, unduly discriminatory or otherwise unlawful, and this review could lead to changes in how backup-power costs are allocated.
Refund Effective Date Set
If refunds are ordered in Docket No. EL26-108-000, they will be effective beginning on the date this notice was published in the Federal Register: 2026-10-06. Stakeholders should note that any refund obligation would reach back to that date.
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Key Dates
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