Electricity Prices to Rise Across Pennsylvania and New Jersey on June 1

L. PROVIDENCE TWP., Pa. – Electricity rates will increase for many residents across Pennsylvania and New Jersey starting June 1. Demonstrators gathered outside the PJM Interconnection headquarters in Lower Providence Township on Wednesday to voice their concerns about these hikes.

New Jersey Sierra Club Director Anjuli Ramos spoke to the crowd, highlighting that Pennsylvania customers could face a 16% increase, while New Jersey customers might see up to a 20% rise. “We are going to be facing an enormous increase in our price of electricity starting on June 1,” she said.

The increases are largely attributed to rising electricity demand driven by data centers in Virginia and Maryland, which PJM estimates could lead to a surge in demand of up to 7,500 megawatts.

In response, PJM plans to implement grid improvements costing over $5 billion to prevent potential outages. However, activists argue that resources should instead focus on connecting renewable energy projects to the grid. Patrick Houston from the Here For Climate Justice Coalition criticized PJM’s strategy, stating, “PJM’s failures are resulting in tons and tons more fossil fuel pollution in our region. It’s worsening our air quality and raising our energy bills.”

In their defense, PJM claimed the protests demonstrate a misrepresentation of facts, as they have worked to expand renewable generation. “Those organizations who visited today have actively worked to push critical power resources off of the system, raising prices and threatening reliability,” said PJM spokesperson Jeff Shields.

Ramos emphasized that focusing on clean energy sources would be more beneficial, stating, “The market is here; let the clean energy projects get connected. They are cheaper.”

State Rep. Chris Rabb joined the protesters, advocating for transparency within PJM’s decision-making. As the debate over energy strategies continues, residents will likely feel the financial impact of rising electricity costs as changes take effect next week.