With Great Power PJM’s high stakes reform
Mar 31, 2026
Julia Hoos, Head of USA East at Aurora Energy Research, specializes in power market analytics and PJM dynamics. She breaks down PJM’s capacity market challenges and reform risks. She explores whether data centers can supply demand flexibility and how large-load tariffs shape utility responses. She also discusses federal pressure, emergency auctions, and how policy uncertainty affects investment.
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How An EV Modeling Project Sparked A Career In Energy
- Julia Hoos went from avoiding energy to falling in love after analyzing EV impacts on fuel demand for an oil client.
- She used Nordic adoption data to model how California's zero-emission vehicle rule would shift fuel supply and pricing.
Capacity Market Is A Bet On Future Peak Readiness
- PJM runs both hourly wholesale markets and a forward capacity market that pays generators simply to exist.
- The capacity market procures future availability years ahead to ensure supply during peak stress events like the Super Bowl.
Data Center Flexibility Could Cut Capacity Needs If Proven
- Data center demand flexibility could reduce the need for new generation if proven reliable during system stress.
- PJM is risk-averse and requires evidence because curtailing compute can cost thousands $/MWh and enforcement mechanisms are lacking.