The PJM Market Monitor's mid-year report detailed rebounding energy prices and coal generation in the first half of 2013 as natural gas costs increased from record lows.

Two bipartisan bills signed by President Obama this month may open PJM to new generation from hydropower - a source many thought was fully exploited.

The latest news on some of the companies doing business in PJM: Duke Energy, NRG, Covanta Energy.

News briefs from around the states within the PJM footprint. States covered this week include Illinois, Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

FirstEnergy began sending layoff notices to workers at two PA coal-fired plants even as PJM notified the company it won’t complete upgrades in time for the planned shutdowns.

FirstEnergy Corp. reached a settlement in a controversial bid to shift a coal-fired generator from its unregulated subsidiary to regulated utility Monongahela Power, but a consumer group says the reduced price is still a bad deal for ratepayers.

Below is a summary of the issues scheduled to be brought to a vote at the PJM MRC (Markets and Reliability Committee) Thursday, August 29, 2013.

Below are the new market monitor recommendations included in the PJM Market Monitor’s State of the Market report for the first half of 2013.

RTO Insider: All generators would be required to verify their capacity under a problem statement approved by the PJM Planning Committee Thursday.

The PJM OC heard first reading last week on changes to Manual 1, Attachment B: Schedule of Data Submittals for NERC Compliance.