FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

September 26, 2025

Following Joint Conference, Bipartisan Governors Collaborate to Address Regional Electricity Grid Challenges

PJM Governors’ Collaborative Looks to Hold Grid Operator PJM Accountable, Increase Affordability and Grid Reliability

Statement of Intent Outlines Joint Action Across State and Party Lines

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy joined a group of bipartisan governors across the region in signing on to the PJM Governors’ Collaborative with the goal of durably increasing state and consumer representation at grid operator PJM in order to address long-term issues with electricity affordability and grid reliability. The announcement comes on the heels of the first-ever technical conference held by the 13 states within the PJM region on Monday in Philadelphia.

For the first time in our nation’s history, Governor Murphy, alongside every PJM Governor, convened a day-long technical conference to confront the PJM cost crisis plaguing the region’s 67 million consumers and present solutions to enhance consumer representation and prioritize affordability while keeping the lights on.

Amid a leadership transition at PJM, much of the conference’s discussion focused on sustaining and improving an outdated system to properly incentivize enough new generation to keep the lights on in every state. With a united interest in restabilizing the market and protecting ratepayers, Governor Murphy and other state Governors reiterated the imperative for PJM to reconsider its minimal response to the recent double digit rate increases, calling on the grid operator and its members to make drastic and immediate change to:

• Increase involvement of and partnership with states
• Improve load forecasting
• Address both affordability and reliability
• Explore interregional transmission to enhance the reliable delivery of electricity
• Implement reforms to the capacity market to provide proper and urgent signals for new and upgraded generation
• Fix the interconnection queue to urgently approve shovel-ready projects, most of which are clean energy

“For nearly a century, Pennsylvanians have trusted PJM to keep the lights on,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. “But PJM has been too slow to bring new generation online and too quick to saddle families with higher bills. It’s not working anymore – and it’s time to get serious about reform. If PJM won’t move fast enough, Pennsylvania and our partner states are prepared to chart a new course in the interest of hard-working families we represent. The PJM Governors’ Collaborative will create a forum for the states to discuss the issues most impacting consumers and put forth a united voice when navigating these critical discussions.”

“As Maryland families see double-digit rate increases and Maryland businesses see the ability to compete threatened by rising energy expenses, we are calling for increased transparency and accountability to improve the grid and lower costs for our citizens,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore. “I am proud to stand with my fellow governors and we will continue in this fight for a grid that is safe, reliable, and affordable.”

“For far too long, PJM has made decisions with minimal input from the states, leaving families and businesses to bear skyrocketing energy costs and rising reliability risks,” said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. “I’m proud to join this bipartisan collective to ensure states have a meaningful voice in shaping the region’s energy future. Together, we’re sending a clear message that PJM must prioritize affordability, reliability, and accountability for the people it serves.”

The efforts outlined in the collaborative’s Statement of Intent include continuing to come together to strategize and develop joint positions on PJM issues, coordinating engagement on issues impacting states at PJM and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as well as promoting alignment of states’ efforts to maximize impact.

In addition to Governor Murphy, signatories of the new collaborative include Governor Matt Meyer of Delaware, Governor Mike Braun of Indiana, Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, Governor Bill Lee of Tennessee, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Governor Wes Moore of Maryland, Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, Governor Josh Stein of North Carolina, Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois, and Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania.

In the face of a regional electricity cost crisis, Governor Murphy has remained on the forefront of holding PJM accountable for a lack of transparency. Earlier this year, a collaborative effort by the region’s Governors achieved a temporary capacity market cap, easing what could have been an even more devastating electricity cost increase this summer. New Jersey and other states within the collaborative have also advocated for market reforms at PJM that would address skyrocketing electricity prices in the region, and for PJM to fill vacancies with bipartisan candidates who represent state interests.