Commissioner Mark C. Christie Statement
March 9, 2021
Docket No. EL19-58-005
I was not a member of the Commission when the issues in this docket were originally considered and may have viewed them differently; however, at the current point in time we face the reality of the PJM capacity market calendar. So while I have similar concerns about the application of an adder expressed by Commissioner Clements in her partial dissent, I am convinced any such changes at this stage would threaten – or indeed obstruct – the ability of PJM to conduct the Base Residual Auction as scheduled this May, which is essential for reliability purposes.
This order does serve to illustrate that the PJM capacity market is not a true market, but is, instead, an administrative construct whose very complexity is inconsistent with transparency. It further highlights the importance of considering these issues in a general proceeding about which I have been vocal in both requesting that these proceedings take place and supporting the Chairman’s announcement of the commencement of such discussions in the March 23, 2021 Technical Conference in Docket No. AD21-10.
For these reasons, I respectfully concur.