Vote Solar Commends Governor Shapiro’s Action to Protect Ratepayers, Standing up to Fossil Fuels

Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro has shown that states are not helpless against PJM, a private corporation that controls the flow of energy to 65 million people across 13 states and D.C.,
by taking aggressive action to protect ratepayers from unnecessary rate hikes.

Vote Solar Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Elowyn Corby, issued the following statement:

“Governor Shapiro’s recent lawsuit against – and settlement with – PJM will save ratepayers over $20 billion. This money would have otherwise lined the pockets of the fossil fuel industry without meaningfully increasing our energy supply or strengthening the energy grid. All of this comes at a time when we already anticipate soaring energy costs for Pennsylvanians as a result of AI data centers, electrification, and increasingly intense extreme weather events.

“As important as this victory is, more reforms are needed to fully protect ratepayers from PJM’s mismanagement. PJM continues to neglect its duty, blocking access to the affordable clean energy that would otherwise already be available to power our homes, while increasing bills by forcing ratepayers to shell out more for less.

“Governor Shapiro’s actions have given ratepayers temporary but meaningful relief from historic rate hikes. PJM can fix the rest of the problem by reforming its capacity market rules and addressing the multi-year backlog in its interconnection queue. If it fails to do so, the people of Pennsylvania will need to look once again to our elected and appointed officials to force its hand.”