Last month's GridEX II security drill was a valuable test of PJM’s emergency response procedures but lacked in realism, participants said.

The MD PSC worked with PJM to ensure new rules on demand response would not ruin the state’s “mass market” DR: EmPOWER Maryland, part of an initiative to reduce energy consumption by 15% below 2007 levels.

The Operating Committee last week endorsed changes to Manuals 3A and 13 while the Market Implementation Committee endorsed revisions to Manual 28.

PJM will approve only one of 17 congestion relief proposals submitted in September, saying most failed to provide sufficient benefits or targeted problems that were already addressed.

PJM will consider relaxing rules for up-to congestion transactions under a problem statement approved last week.

Members gave final approval to rules allowing more generation owners to obtain PJMNet communication links and an initiative to clarify rules on withdrawing from PJM membership.

The MIC approved the sunset of the Financial Transmission Rights Task Force.

It took three tries Dec. 9 before the Members Committee reached consensus on Tariff changes that will allow PJM operators more flexibility in dispatching demand response.

Members agreed to develop rules for demand response providers requesting maintenance outages.

News briefs on companies in PJM Interconnection: AEP, ComEd, Pepco and PPL.