PJM Wholesale Electricity Markets Remain Competitive in First Half of 2026

## PJM Wholesale Power Markets Hold Competitive Through Mid-2026 PJM Interconnection's wholesale electric energy market produced competitive results during the first six months of 2026, according to the *2026 Quarterly State of the Market Report for PJM: January through June*, released by the organization's independent Market Monitoring Unit (MMU) based in Eagleville, Pennsylvania. The report, issued by PJM's market monitor, affirms that wholesale electricity pricing and market structures within the PJM footprint — one of the largest competitive wholesale electricity markets in the world, serving 13 states and the District of Columbia — continued to function without significant market power abuses or structural inefficiencies in the period reviewed. ### Relevance to Maritime and Port Operations For maritime industry stakeholders, competitive wholesale electricity markets carry direct operational significance. Major port facilities, shipyards, dry docks, cold-storage terminals, and container handling operations along the U.S. East Coast and Great Lakes region — all within or adjacent to the PJM service territory — are substantial consumers of grid electricity. Stable, competitively priced wholesale power supports cost predictability for terminal operators and supports the ongoing electrification of port equipment, including shore power infrastructure for vessels at berth. The findings are also pertinent against the backdrop of growing investment in shore-to-ship power (cold ironing) systems, which allow vessels to shut down auxiliary engines while docked and draw power from the grid instead. The viability and economics of such systems are closely tied to the cost and reliability of grid electricity. ### Market Context PJM operates the transmission grid and manages the wholesale electricity market for a region encompassing approximately 65 million people. The MMU's quarterly assessments serve as a key regulatory and transparency tool, providing market participants, regulators, and policymakers with an independent evaluation of market performance. With the maritime sector under increasing regulatory pressure to reduce emissions — including from auxiliary engine operation in port — the health and competitiveness of regional electricity markets like PJM's will remain a closely watched indicator for port authorities and shipping companies investing in electrification infrastructure. *Source: PR Newswire / PJM Interconnection Market Monitoring Unit*