Regulators

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.

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

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

• Mid-Atlantic SRRTEP
• Western SRRTEP
• Southern SRRTEP

RTEP Report

The RTEP report is published annually by PJM to convey the results of planning studies throughout the previous calendar year and to explain the rationale behind why transmission system upgrades are needed. The report discusses system drivers, reliability criteria violations and upgrades for reporting purposes to facilitate greater RTEP understanding.

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

Stakeholder Groups

Organization of PJM States Incorporated (OPSI)
OPSI is a liaison group to PJM and its members. It is a non-profit group made up of the state regulatory commissions from the states in which PJM operates.
Learn more.

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

Transmission Expansion Advisory Committee (TEAC)

Sub Regional RTEP Committees (SRRTEP) Mid-Atlantic | Western | Southern

Governing Documents

PJM Planning Process Protocol

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

Open Access Transmission Tariff (OATT)

PJM’s 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.

Manual 14

PJM's 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 including details associated with the scope and procedures associated with the planning process methodologies, analyses and development of proposed upgrades.

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.

Visit the Load Analysis Subcommittee page.

Planning Criteria

In developing the RTEP, PJM annually performs comprehensive power flow, short circuit and stability analyses. These assess the impacts of forecasted firm loads, firm imports from and exports to neighboring systems, existing generation and transmission assets, and anticipated new generation and transmission facilities. PJM conducts a comprehensive assessment of the ability of the PJM system to meet all applicable reliability planning criteria.

View PJM and Transmission Owner Planning Criteria.

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.