A massive heat dome swept across the eastern U.S. last week, driving temperatures into the triple digits and pushing the PJM Interconnection grid to its highest peak load since 2006 (Figure 1). PJM, the nation’s largest regional transmission organization, issued maximum generation and hot weather alerts for June 22-25, forecasting peak loads of 160,526 MW — well above its summer projection of 154,000 MW and nearing the 2006 all-time high of 165,563 MW.
The heat dome, characterized by intense heat and high humidity, spiked electricity demand as air conditioners ran at full capacity. To maintain reliability, PJM urged transmission and generation owners to defer scheduled maintenance and keep critical infrastructure online during this high-stress period.
The heat dome’s impact draws parallels to Texas’ 2023 heat wave, where renewables and storage met up to 80% of ERCOT’s peak load. PJM’s interconnection queue remains backed up with projects consistently delayed or suspended. Nationally, more than $14 billion in clean energy projects have been canceled this year amid policy and economic uncertainty.
As extreme weather events become more frequent, and incremental load growth remains a central part of the conversation, PJM and other grid operators face a growing risk to grid reliability.
DID YOU KNOW?
PJM is the largest regional transmission organization in the U.S., spanning 13 states and District of Columbia. It is responsible for the flow of electricity to about 67 million people.
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