Transmission Owners

Transmission owners are encouraged to participate in the ongoing activities of the Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TEAC). This forum provides opportunity for stakeholder participation and advice throughout the Regional Transmission Expansion Planning (RTEP) process and for remaining apprised of all evolving aspects of PJM’s RTEP plans and processes.

Regional Transmission Expansion Plan

PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan (RTEP) identifies transmission system additions and improvements needed to keep electricity flowing to 51 million people throughout 13 states and the District of Columbia. Studies are conducted that test the transmission system against mandatory national standards and PJM regional standards. These studies look 15 years into the future to identify transmission overloads, voltage limitations and other reliability standards violations. PJM then develops transmission plans in collaboration with Transmission Owners to resolve violations that could otherwise lead to overloads and black-outs. This process culminates in one recommended plan – one RTEP - for the entire PJM footprint that is subsequently submitted to PJM’s independent governing Board for consideration and approval.

A complete list of all approved RTEP upgrades, a brief description of facility and driver, as well as, construction status is available.

Governing Documents

The Operating Agreement WEB | PDF, Schedule 6, codifies the provisions under which PJM executes its Regional Transmission Expansion Planning Protocol, known as the RTEP Process.

The Open Access Transmission Tariff WEB | PDF describes the interconnection request process for generating resource interconnection and merchant transmission interconnection, as well as, specific process provisions to address long-term firm transmission service and Auction Revenue Rights.

M-14 series of manuals | M14A | M14B | M14C | M14D | M14E | M14F | M14G WEB describe the specific business rules under which PJM effects the entire RTEP Process. Specifically, manual 14B  WEB |  PDF addresses the details associated with the scope and procedures associated with the planning process methodologies, analyses and development of proposed upgrades.

The Transmission Owners Agreement PDF codifies the obligations and delegations of authorities of PJM and transmission owners regarding the functional treatment of transmission owner assets under PJM control including that for carrying out the development of a coordinated regional transmission expansion plan.

Learn more about the TOA-Administrative Committee.

Planning of Supplemental Projects

The PJM Transmission Owners Attachment M-3 Process Guidelines PDF have been developed and adopted by the transmission owners that plan supplemental projects through the FERC-approved process described in Attachment M-3 to the PJM Open Access Transmission Tariff. The guidelines, which are subject to change by the transmission owners that use them (listed in Appendix 1), provide general guidelines for the implementation of the M-3 process. The guidelines provide stakeholders with an understanding of the step-by-step interactive information exchange process under the M-3 process, including how they can best provide input at various stages of the process.

Load Growth & Forecasting

One of the core principles of PJM’s planning process is the integration of all drivers that impact grid infrastructure planning needs and all solutions available to meet those needs. Load Forecasting is a fundamental, key driver of resource adequacy requirements and transmission expansion plans.

Learn more about the Load Forecasting Development Process or visit the Load Analysis Subcommittee page.

Applicable Transmission Owner Technical Requirements & Standards

Transmission owners must adhere to applicable technical requirements and standards. These include engineering design requirements and standards; equipment specification and suppliers; construction requirements and standards; and, engineering, procurement and construction process requirements and standards

Learn more about transmission owners design, engineering and construction guidelines and standards.

Stakeholder Groups

Sub Regional RTEP Committees

The Sub Regional RTEP Committees (SRRTEP) provide a forum to review Subregional RTEP upgrades and to provide input and recommendations to the TEAC:

Planning Committee

The Planning Committee is established under the Operating Agreement WEB | PDF and has the responsibility to review and recommend system planning strategies and policies as well as planning and engineering designs for the PJM bulk power supply system to assure the continued ability of the member companies to operate reliably and economically in a competitive market environment. Additionally, the committee makes recommendations regarding generating capacity reserve requirement and demand-side valuation factors.

Reliability Planning Process Working Group

The Regional Planning Process Working Group enables a stakeholder process to evaluate and make recommendations to the Members Committee to reform the present interconnection queue and study processes.

Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee

Load Analysis Subcommittee

Transmission System Footprint Map

PJM encompasses major U.S. load centers from Illinois’s western border to the Atlantic coast including the metropolitan areas in and around Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Dayton, Newark and northern New Jersey, Norfolk, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond and Washington D.C.

View maps.