PJM Interconnection at a glance
Quick facts | PJM |
|---|---|
Who runs it | PJM runs the grid and interconnection studies for all or parts of 13 states plus Washington, D.C. FERC approves its rules. |
Governing rules | PJM’s FERC-approved tariff and Manual 14H (Revision 07, August 2026) |
Generator study process | Cycles: an application deadline, three study phases and three 30-day decision points. It takes roughly 690 days from the application deadline to a signed agreement. |
Current cycle | Cycle 01 Phase I began September 28, 2026, with 633 projects totaling 168.6 GW. |
Generator deposits | A study deposit of $75,000 to $400,000 depending on size, plus Readiness Deposit 1 at $4,000 per MW. Deposits rise to 10% and then 20% of network upgrade costs at the first two decision points, and to full security at the third. |
Fast track | The Expedited Interconnection Track: up to 10 state-sponsored projects a year, each 250 MW or more, targeting a signed agreement in about 10 months. It costs a $500,000 study deposit plus $15,000 per MW and runs through December 31, 2027. |
Large load threshold | 50 MW or more at a single point of interconnection. FERC accepted this definition and PJM’s Large Load Registry on October 9, 2026. |
How large loads connect | Through the local utility or transmission owner. PJM has no queue for loads. |
Large load rules status | Being rebuilt. FERC rejected PJM’s proposed connect-and-manage framework, called Interim Resource Adequacy Service, on October 9, 2026. |
Peak demand, for scale | 162.6 GW on July 2, 2026 |
Last updated | November 3, 2026 |
PJM Generator Interconnection Process
Generator interconnection,
step-by-step
PJM studies generators in Cycles. Each Cycle has a firm application deadline, three study phases and three decision points where deposits rise and developers choose to stay or withdraw. The process takes roughly 690 days from the application deadline to a signed agreement.
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Plan the project and the deadline. PJM posts each Cycle’s application deadline at least 180 days ahead, and only complete applications received by that deadline enter the Cycle. Large state-sponsored projects may qualify for the Expedited Interconnection Track instead.
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Submit the application. File technical data, a site plan, evidence of site control, the study deposit of $75,000 to $400,000, and Readiness Deposit 1 at $4,000 per MW.
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Application review. PJM flags deficiencies, the developer has 10 business days to fix them, and valid requests receive a project ID. This takes at least 90 days.
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Phase I study and Decision Point I. PJM studies the whole Cycle together and estimates network upgrade costs, targeting 120 days. Developers then have 30 days to post Readiness Deposit 2, at 10% of upgrade costs, or withdraw.
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Phase II study and Decision Point II. PJM adds stability and short-circuit analysis over about 180 days. Developers then have 30 days to post Readiness Deposit 3, at 20% of upgrade costs, or withdraw.
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Phase III study and Decision Point III. PJM finalizes results and sends draft agreements over about 180 days. To continue, developers post security for the full cost of their allocated upgrades.
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Sign the interconnection agreement. The developer, the transmission owner and PJM negotiate and sign the final agreement, then construction begins.
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PJM Large Load Interconnection Process
Large Load interconnection,
step-by-step
PJM has no queue for large loads. Data centers and other loads of 50 MW or more connect through their local utility, and PJM’s role comes through forecasting and transmission planning. PJM is rebuilding its large load rules after FERC rejected key parts of its proposal on October 9, 2026, so confirm current requirements.
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Request service from your utility. Contact the utility or transmission owner that serves the site. Loads under 50 MW follow the utility’s normal process.
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Utility load study. The utility studies the local facilities and any upgrades needed to connect the load. Timelines vary by utility, and this track can lag generator interconnection by a year or more.
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Forecast and registry. The utility submits the load to PJM so it’s included in PJM’s load forecast, which drives capacity procurement and transmission planning. The load is also recorded in PJM’s Large Load Registry.
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Consider pairing new generation. PJM encourages large loads to bring their own new generation, which can go through the Expedited Interconnection Track. Co-locating with an existing generator is another option, under new transmission services FERC ordered in 2025.
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Regional transmission planning. Any regional upgrades the load needs are identified and approved through PJM’s Regional Transmission Expansion Plan, on its own schedule.
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Sign agreements and build. Sign agreements with the utility, then the utility builds the connection facilities and local upgrades.
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Energize. The load comes online as firm network load, timed to when the needed upgrades are complete.
What's changed recently in PJM interconnection
Last updated November 2026
Both of PJM’s interconnection paths are changing. Generators are in the first Cycle of PJM’s reformed process, and large-load rules are being rebuilt after FERC rejected key parts of PJM’s proposal. If your project is in PJM’s process or headed there, check which of these changes apply before your next deadline.
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December 18, 2025: FERC ordered PJM to create new transmission services for loads co-located with generators. Rates and some terms are still pending.
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June 18, 2026: FERC issued a show-cause order on large-load interconnection, signaling broader reform is coming.
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July 31, 2026: PJM’s Expedited Interconnection Track took effect, for up to 10 state-sponsored projects a year of 250 MW or more. It targets a signed agreement in about 10 months and runs through December 31, 2027.
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September 16, 2026: PJM proposed replacing Cycle 02 with a single annual process covering generators, transmission service and large loads. It hasn’t been adopted.
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September 28, 2026: Cycle 01 Phase I began, with 633 projects totaling 168.6 GW.
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October 9, 2026: FERC accepted PJM’s definition of a large load (50 MW or more at one point of interconnection) and its Large Load Registry. FERC rejected PJM’s connect-and-manage framework for large loads, so no curtailment-first rules are in effect.
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Coming up: Cycle 01 Phase I results around late January 2027, a decision on how PJM handles Cycle 02, and a possible refiling of PJM’s large-load framework, with no date set.
How LandGate Helps with PJM Interconnection
Quickly and accurately determine the feasibility of a site in PJM using the best and most accurate data
Get your projects on the grid faster with reliable transmission data.
Find sites with capacity
Only complete applications filed by PJM’s deadline enter a Cycle, so site screening has to happen well before it. Search parcels by criteria such as distance to a substation and available offtake capacity, and see available transfer capacity at transmission-level injection points to find the best points of interconnection.
Know your upgrade exposure
PJM’s deposits rise from 10% to 20% to 100% of network upgrade costs across the three decision points. LandGate’s automated offtake capacity studies show substation details, capacity results, limiting elements, and queue information, so you can see where upgrades are likely before money is on the line.
Choose the right utility & substation
In PJM, a data center’s path starts with its local utility. LandGate’s Data Center Due Diligence Reports identify the ISO, the nearest transmission & distribution lines, and ranks the closest substations by available capacity to serve the site so you can start the right conversation with the right utility.
Lock down the best sites
PJM requires evidence of site control at the application and again at the decision points. LandGate pairs its grid data with proprietary landowner leads and a map-based CRM to help you find, secure, and track the right parcels with your taem, including off-market properties with the right infrastructure profile.
