Groups call for immediate action by electricity grid operator, elected officials
For Immediate Release October 7, 2025
Contact: Carolena Bellini, PennEnvironment, carolena@pennenvironment.org, (267) 575-8805
Pittsburgh, PA – Advocates, non-profit groups and consumers gathered for a public education event today at Cityview Church in Pittsburgh to show how rising electricity prices may lead to difficult economic decisions for Pittsburgh residents. Attendees called on the region’s electricity grid operator to take steps to keep electricity prices down in order to protect families from rising utility bills. Known as PJM, this little-known company is in charge of electricity distribution across the region. Speakers advocated for PJM to bring more new clean, reliable, affordable energy to the grid to meet soaring electricity demands in the region.
“Rather than doubling down on the dirty, expensive power systems of the 19th century, PJM must embrace clean affordable energy in the face of demand spikes and increases in extreme weather,” said Carolena Bellini, Clean Energy Associate with PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center. “It is the 21st century and we should be using energy that is not only better for the wallets of consumers, but our environment and our health.”
Advocates presented a display of groceries that would cost local residents around $113. This amount equals the most recent average annual electricity bill hike that most Pittsburgh households are experiencing between 2024-2025, in part due to poor policy decisions by PJM. Additional electricity price increases are expected in the upcoming year for Pennsylvania residents. Event speakers noted how these electricity price increases may strain Pittsburgh household budgets, making it harder for families to keep up with food purchases and other essential needs.
“As our number of participants in need increases, we are hearing from folks who express difficulty navigating what it takes to feed their families healthy meals, as their paycheck doesn’t cover as many expenses as it used to,” said Pastor Leeann Younger of Cityview Church. “The families I meet here are already struggling. Rising utility costs will only make things more difficult.”
The groups holding the event targeted the policies of PJM, which controls the distribution of energy in Pittsburgh as well across Pennsylvania and a 12-state region from New Jersey to Illinois. Overall, more than 67 million Americans live in PJM’s service area and depend on the company for reliable, affordable electricity rates.
Advocates specifically reference PJM stalling hundreds of proposed energy projects spanning numerous years, and the company promoting more expensive and dirty energy projects over cheaper, cleaner energy project proposals from utility companies. With demand for electric power rapidly rising and the need for new, affordable energy sources more critical than ever, advocates predicted that electricity costs will continue to rise without smarter policies implemented by PJM and state officials.
Speakers urged PJM to clear its backlog of nearly 2,000 new energy projects awaiting approval for connection to the electricity grid, and called for giving consumers a greater say in electric grid decisions that affect their utility bills.
“Due to PJM’s broken process for connecting new generation to the grid, hundreds of gigawatts of potential energy supply are sitting in limbo,” said Justin Carpenter with the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance. “Real, meaningful reforms need to be made there to ensure accountability, responsiveness, and transparency in their decision-making.”
Speakers noted that renewable energy sources like solar and wind are now cheaper than traditional fossil-fuel powered energy sources. A recent study found that nearly all renewable energy projects are now cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives. But currently, only about 5% of the PJM region’s energy comes from cheaper, home-grown renewable energy sources.
Speakers praised steps by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, and other governors in the PJM region who have come together to press the electricity grid operator to implement changes to their policies and business practices that can protect consumers, hold down electricity costs, and strengthen grid reliability.
“The really exciting part of today is seeing all of these different organizations coming together to bring light to the mismanagement of PJM and build power to change it,” said Tom Hoffman with Third Act.
PennEnvironment’s photos from the event can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/