PJM IPS Meeting–March 30, 2026
Author: Faizan Hassan Hajam
The PJM Interconnection Process Subcommittee (IPS) meeting was convened on March 30, 2026. The meeting centered around critical updates on transition cycles and the upcoming Cycle 01 application window. Key discussions centered around study timelines, technical requirements for new applications, and the status of existing interconnection requests
(1.) Transition Cycle Updates
- Transition Cycle 1 (TC1): A total of 76 projects (out of 87), representing approximately 13 GW, have executed final agreements. Five of the 87 projects were filed unexecuted, and six were withdrawn. PJM needs resolution of all agreements to update the Final System Impact Study (SIS) Cluster Report (Retool 2), which will be posted on pjm.com. Retool 2 is currently in progress.
- Transition Cycle 2 (TC2): PJM is currently studying 270 projects in this cycle. Phase 2 is currently in progress, and the reports for this phase are expected to be published on June 1, 2026. Agreement negotiations are expected to be started on June 2, 2026. Note that Decision Point 2 elections and modifications for this phase must be made in NextGen.
Cycle 01
- Application Deadline: The application deadline for Cycle 01 is April 27, 2026.
- NextGen Requirement: All submissions, including new Cycle 01 applications and projects previously submitted via Queue Point (Applications, AH1-AJ1 Applications, Transitional CIRs, CIR Transfer, Long-Term Firm), must be reapplied via Nextgen; otherwise, these will be withdrawn.
- Submission Requirements: In addition to entering all technical data in NextGen, an executed Application and Studies Agreement (ASA), study and readiness deposits, and evidence of site control must be provided by the application deadline.
- Cycle 01 Application Review Timeline: The application review period will range from May to July 2026 (90 days), after which Phase 1 will start. PJM aims to notify developers or eligible customers of any application deficiencies within 15 business days after the application phase closes. The Developer or Eligible Customer then has 10 business days to provide a response. Subsequently, PJM aims to review this response within 15 business days. This may result in either termination of the New Service Request or its inclusion in Phase 1.
- EMT Modeling Requirements: PJM recently posted new Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) Model Development Guidelines on March 5, 2026. For Cycle 01 and beyond, any project intending to proceed to Phase III must submit PSCAD models (satisfying the above guidelines) by Decision Point (DP) 2. For projects in TC2, after performing screening to identify projects connecting to areas of low system strength, PJM will notify the developers that a PSCAD model and associated documents must be submitted at DP2.
- Capacity Interconnection Rights (CIRs):Planned wind and solar resources may request CIRs based on regional hourly summer net output percentiles (up to the expected 95th percentile hourly summer net output between the hour ending 11:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. EPT. Developers are advised to follow the currently posted “Regional Percentiles for Planned Solar and Wind CIR Requests” for their applications
Expansion of Provisional Service Updates
- IPS identified an interest to ensure that the technology of a unit eligible for this service is technology “agnostic”. Additionally, a consensus is that projects must have advanced into Phase 3 of the current cycle process to be eligible for this service.
- POI/Jurisdiction Requirements: As per the meeting discussion, the service applies only to projects eligible for a generation interconnection agreement (GIA), effectively excluding Wholesale Market Participation Agreement (WMPA) /FERC non-jurisdictional projects.
- Transmission Owner (TO) Construction: IPS added the requirement that only those projects that do not require TO construction are eligible for Provisional Service during Phase 3.
- Creating a more concrete process for provisional service is a big step in the right direction to give developers a path for meeting Commercial Operation Commitments.
Upcoming Important Dates
- Cycle 01 Application Deadline: April 27, 2026
- Cycle 01 Phase 1: This date will depend on TC2 DP2 close, Cycle 01 Review completion, and Cycle 01 Model being posted for 30 days. PJM Is currently evaluating Cycle 01 Model posting date with respect to TC2 DP2 elections and timing.
- Cycle 01 Phase 2: The start date will depend on TC2 DP3 close
- Cycle 01 Phae 3: The start date will depend on TC2 GIAs executed or filed unexecuted
- TC2 Phase 2: This is currently in progress since December 03, 2025 and is expected to complete by June 01, 2026. Some developers will need to submit PSCAD models and associated documents at DP II (expected from June 2, 2026 to July 1, 2026)
- TC2 Phase 3: The start date will depend on TC1 GIAs executed or filed unexecuted
Zero-Emission Grid team remains dedicated to providing the insights and guidance needed to navigate the evolving PJM interconnection landscape. Contact us to get started.
Lear more about PJM Interconnection Cycle 1 explore our article: PJM Cycle 1 Interconnection (2026): Timeline, Requirements, and Developer Strategy
