CHICAGO - Today, Governor JB Pritzker welcomed a bipartisan group of 13 governors and the Mayor of D.C. to Illinois to the 2026 Governors’ Summit on the State of PJM. During the remarks, the Governor announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that formally establishes the PJM Governors’ Collaborative, a multistate, bipartisan organization designed to strengthen states’ collaboration as they work to reduce costs for working families and strengthen grid reliability for the region’s electric system operated by PJM. The power grid operator is responsible for managing the flow of electricity across all or parts of 13 states, including northern Illinois. Its decisions affect the reliability of the electric grid and the electricity costs paid by millions of families and businesses. Governor Pritzker has been a leading advocate for states to have a greater role in PJM decision-making.
Governor Pritzker opened the summit with remarks emphasizing the importance of working across state lines and advocating for a seat at the table, as PJM makes decisions that impact millions of working families in several states across the country.
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“Families in Illinois and across the region deserve more from PJM, and as Governors, we refuse to sit by idly as they prioritize profits over people,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Families and businesses in Illinois depend on an electric grid that is reliable and affordable, and the decisions made at PJM have an enormous impact on both. Through this collaborative, we’re advocating for what our people deserve: a grid operator who meets growing electricity demand, maintains reliability, and keeps costs under control. As Governors, states deserve a meaningful seat at the table where important decisions are being made that impact our residents.”
The formal establishment of the PJM Governors’ Collaborative acts as part of a shared bipartisan objective to increase state and consumer representation in PJM’s governance and decision-making processes, ensuring affordable, safe, and reliable electricity for residents and businesses. This comes at a critical time for the region’s electric system amid growing concerns over PJM’s role in driving up electricity costs, failing to address reliability challenges, and delaying critical transmission development – all of which impact Illinois families and businesses.
The Collaborative solidifies a forum in which governors and their administrations can share information, identify areas of common interest, and act together when sufficient agreement exists, such as:
- Developing joint positions and strategies on PJM issues
- Sharing technical assistance to understand and assess PJM proposals
- Coordinating engagement with PJM, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, state public utility commissions, and other organizations involved in regional electricity policy
Governor Pritzker continues to push for accountability from PJM for reforms to help reduce costs, protect consumers, and ensure reliability across the region. In August, he joined governors across the region in filing detailed recommendations with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to make the grid operator more accountable, transparent, and responsive to the public. In April, Governor Pritzker demanded that PJM’s data center electricity consumption not drive up energy costs for consumers.
Alongside Illinois, the PJM Governors’ Collaborative includes governors from Delaware, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and New Jersey. Together, this bipartisan group of governors will continue pressing PJM to deliver affordable, reliable, and clean energy for working families and business across the region.
