This month’s PJM IPS meeting held on September 8, 2025, met with the agenda dominated by discussions on FERC Order 2023 compliance, interconnection queue management, and developer frustrations with transparency. With PJM managing one of the largest and most complex queues in the country, these meetings provide critical signals for how reforms will affect developers in practice.
Key Discussion Items from PJM IPS Meeting
PJM began by outlining its compliance roadmap for Order 2023, which requires the adoption of cluster-based study processes and stricter readiness milestones. Staff explained how new rules would apply to upcoming clusters while transitional provisions are being designed for projects already deep in the queue. Developers voiced concern that transitional rules could create duplicative requirements, forcing projects to meet both legacy and new standards. PJM emphasized its intention to provide grandfathering provisions, though details remain under review.
Current Queue Clusters
The conversation then turned to the status of current queue clusters. PJM staff presented updated statistics showing significant progress in clearing older projects but acknowledged ongoing bottlenecks in Phase I studies. Developers cited persistent delays and asked PJM to publish regular performance dashboards with percentage completion metrics and clearer timelines. PJM admitted that staffing and modeling resources remain stretched thin, though efforts are underway to reallocate resources and improve throughput.
Readiness Milestones
Another contentious issue was readiness milestones and financial security requirements. PJM confirmed that developers must now demonstrate stronger site control and higher deposits to remain in the queue. The rationale is to weed out speculative projects that clog the process and impose unnecessary upgrade costs. While some stakeholders welcomed this tightening, smaller developers argued that the rules unfairly penalize early-stage or community-based projects. PJM acknowledged these concerns but stood firm, noting that serious projects will benefit from a more credible and efficient queue.
Improvements from PJM
Transparency and communication were recurring themes throughout the meeting. Developers reported difficulty obtaining timely responses from PJM staff and asked for clearer lines of communication. In response, PJM pledged to expand its public dashboards, improve stakeholder engagement channels, and publish standardized study assumptions earlier in the process. These steps, PJM argued, will help level the playing field for developers navigating the complex interconnection landscape.
Key Takeaways
The meeting closed with a preview of next steps, including the release of draft transitional rules for stakeholder review this fall. Additional workshops will focus on aligning PJM’s reforms with those occurring in other RTOs under Order 2023, ensuring that developers operating across multiple regions are not subjected to conflicting requirements.
Queue reform and reliability changes can make or break project schedules. We offer queue strategy, feasibility modeling, and risk analysis to help you secure interconnection faster. Partner with ZEG, or explore our services and solutions to navigate PJM’s evolving IPS requirements with confidence.
View Meeting Materials here.
