Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission

06/09/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2026 12:31

PUC Releases 2026 Summer Readiness Reports from Electric Utilities and PJM

PUC Releases 2026 Summer Readiness Reports from Electric Utilities and PJM

Published on 6/9/2026

Filed under: Electric

Utilities and Grid Operator Report Strong Operational Readiness as Summer Demand and Reliability Challenges Continue to Evolve

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released the 2026 Summer Readiness Overviews submitted by the Commonwealth's major electric distribution companies (EDCs) and the regional electric grid operator, PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM).

The reports indicate that Pennsylvania's electric utilities and PJM have completed extensive preparations for the summer season, including infrastructure upgrades, system maintenance, emergency response planning, storm hardening efforts, and investments in technologies designed to improve reliability and resilience.

"Pennsylvania's electric system is operating in a period of significant change, with growing demand, evolving technologies, and increasingly complex operating conditions," said PUC Chairman Steve DeFrank. "These reports demonstrate the extensive planning and preparation underway across the utility industry and PJM to meet summer reliability challenges. Continued investment, coordination, and operational readiness are critical to ensuring that consumers have access to the safe and reliable electric service they depend on every day."


Regional Power Grid Outlook

According to PJM's 2026 Summer Outlook, summer temperatures are expected to lean above normal across much of the PJM region, including areas extending eastward from the Appalachian Mountains, while portions of the eastern Mid-Atlantic are forecast to experience wetter-than-normal conditions. PJM projects a summer peak load of approximately 156,400 megawatts (MW), with a potential (10% possibility of occurrence) high-demand scenario reaching approximately 169,100 MW during periods of extreme weather and electricity usage.

PJM reports that it has approximately 180,200 MW of installed generating capacity available to serve customers across its footprint and remains positioned to meet anticipated summer electricity demands under forecast conditions.

Key Utility Highlights

  • System Readiness and Infrastructure Investments: Utilities report continued investments in electric infrastructure, equipment upgrades, system inspections, vegetation management, and maintenance programs designed to improve reliability and reduce outage frequency and duration.

  • Grid Modernization and Emerging Technologies: Several utilities highlighted the deployment of advanced technologies, including remote monitoring and control systems, drones, automated distribution equipment, and self-healing devices that can reduce the number of customers affected by outages and speed restoration efforts.

  • Storm Preparedness and Emergency Response: Utilities reported reviewing emergency response plans, customer communication procedures, mutual assistance agreements, and storm restoration strategies in preparation for summer thunderstorms, tropical weather systems, and other large-scale events.

  • Reliability and Resilience Enhancements: EDCs continue to strengthen their systems through distribution automation, circuit sectionalizing, targeted infrastructure investments, and ongoing vegetation management programs intended to improve system resilience during severe weather.

  • Demand and Capacity Planning: PJM's summer assessment projects sufficient resources to meet expected electricity demand, while utilities continue to monitor the impacts of changing customer usage patterns, distributed energy resources, electric vehicles, and other emerging factors affecting the grid.

  • Supply Chain and Equipment Readiness: Utilities noted that electric equipment and material costs remain elevated and that lead times for certain equipment, particularly transformers, continue to present challenges. However, companies reported adjusting procurement and inventory practices to help ensure adequate supplies are available to support summer operations and restoration activities.

The reports also note that several utilities have begun evaluating wildfire preparedness measures as part of broader efforts to address emerging reliability and resiliency risks.

Availability of Reports

The 2026 Summer Readiness Overviews are available on the PUC's Reliability webpage and include reports from:

Stay Informed and Be Prepared

The PUC encourages Pennsylvanians to remain prepared for potential summer storms and power outages by reviewing emergency plans, maintaining outage reporting information, and following guidance from their electric utility regarding storm preparedness and restoration updates.

Consumers should report outages promptly to their electric utility and avoid downed utility lines, which should always be considered energized and dangerous.

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC's website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the "Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission" or "PA PUC" on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission published this content on June 09, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 09, 2026 at 18:31 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]