Power grid comes under scrutiny as energy prices rise

VALLEY FORGE, PA — In a suburban office park near Philadelphia, about 10 people work around the clock under the constant glow of a 40-foot wide video screen with a map of the East Coast power grid — stretching all the way from Chicago to New Jersey to eastern North Carolina.

These people work for PJM Interconnection, an institution that few Marylanders have probably heard of, but one that plays a key role in the state’s deregulated electricity system.

Controlling the output of more than 1,000 power plants, PJM runs the largest wholesale electricity market in the world and manages the flow of power in 13 states and Washington, D.C., serving 51 million people.

“You’ve got to match supply and demand all the time, in real time,” said Frank Koza, PJM’s executive director for system operations, as he looked out over the flashing lights, blinking TV screens and charts.

PJM officials say electricity deregulation is working just fine. But with a looming 72 percent average increase in power bills for Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. customers, deregulation is suddenly as unpopular in Maryland as the New York Yankees.

Baltimore Business Journal