How will proposed PJM market changes handle state nuclear subsidies?

How will proposed PJM market changes handle state nuclear subsidies?
Jul 11, 2019
6 MIN. READ

A new paper on potential impacts from PJM’s market reforms shows prices ranging from $70 to $482/MW-day in the capacity market.

Nuclear power plants are facing tough competition across the United States. Pressured by low natural gas prices and limited electricity demand growth, nuclear plants are being squeezed out of Regional Transmission Operator (RTO) markets like PJM Interconnection (PJM)—and into early retirement.

Illinois and New Jersey have developed subsidy programs to keep nuclear plants online for their clean-energy and jobs benefits, and other states are contemplating similar initiatives. But these subsidies have begun to complicate the capacity markets run by PJM, which compensate electricity generating plants by providing out-of-market payments that other generating plants would consider unfair. Our white paper, "The Potential Impacts of PJM Market Reforms.”, discusses the potential impacts on market prices under the proposed reforms to mitigate the impact of these subsidies.

Exhibit 1 - Overview of PJM’s nuclear facilities and subsidy programs

State

Plant names

State nuclear program/subsidy status

Illinois

Braidwood
Byron
Dresden
LaSalle
Quad Cities
Total = 11.7 GW

IL approved the Zero Emissions Standard program in December 2016, creating Zero Emissions Credits (ZECs) which can be provided by nuclear generators. Currently, Exelon’s Quad Cities is the only PJM generator receiving ZEC payments. However, Exelon has announced that the Byron and Dresden generators are also facing financial difficulties. With potential discussions about Illinois implementing a 100% clean energy target by 2030, several or all nuclear units in IL could potentially receive subsidies or out-of- market payments.

Maryland

Calvert Cliffs
Total = 2.0 GW

There is currently no nuclear subsidy program under discussion in Maryland

Michigan

Donald Cook
Total = 2.4 GW

MI does not have a nuclear subsidy program, but the Donald Cook nuclear generator is a regulated asset owned and as such is not dependent on market revenues from PJM.

New Jersey

Hope Creek
Salem
Total = 3.8 GW

NJ approved legislation in May 2018, creating Zero Emissions Credits (ZECs) which can be provided by nuclear generators. On April 18th, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved ZECs for both the Hope Creek and Salem nuclear generators. Following the approval of these ZECs, PSEG has withdrawn their previously-filed deactivation requests for the Hope Creek and Salem generators.

Ohio

Davis Besse
Perry
Total = 2.3 GW

OH legislative leaders have introduced a bill that would provide subsidies to nuclear power plants in OH by creating an Ohio Clean Air Program that rewards clean air resources which minimize emissions from electricity generation. This bill has passed the OH house but is still awaiting approval by the senate.

Pennsylvania

Beaver Valley
Limerick
Peach Bottom
Susquehanna 
Three Mile Island
Total = 10.9 GW

PA is currently discussing a nuclear subsidy program in their state legislature. The proposed bill would create an additional tier in Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Credit (AEC) program, which will allow nuclear generators to participate. If this program is approved, it will provide additional payments to nuclear generators in Pennsylvania. This could potentially be sufficient to keep the Beaver Valley and Three Mile Island generators online; both have announced plans to retire.

Virginia

North Anna
Surry
Total = 3.9 GW

VA does not have a nuclear subsidy program, but the North Anna and Surry nuclear generators are regulated assets and as such are not dependent on market revenues from PJM.

On June 29, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) ruled that the PJM capacity market construct does not adequately protect against the potential price impacts of subsidized resources. In the same order, FERC rejected the initial market changes proposed by PJM. On October 2, 2018, PJM submitted their latest proposed changes–the Resource Carve- Out (RCO) and Extended Resource Carve-Out (Extended RCO) proposals.

Breaking down PJM’s proposed changes and impacts

We have run several scenarios, based on the 2021/2022 capacity auction parameters and resources for the two PJM proposals and found that the range for prices under them would be $70-$482/MW-day.

Proposal descriptions:

  • Resource Carve-Out: Carved-out resources are bid as price-takers (i.e. bid at zero cost) when determining both the market-clearing quantity and price. This is very similar to the status quo in terms of capacity price determinations with the only difference being that capacity revenues for subsidized resources are credited back to the load to ensure that load does not have to pay twice for subsidized resources.

  • Extended Resource Carve-Out: The market-clearing quantity is the same as in the RCO proposal, using a supply curve with carved-out resources bid as price-takers. For the market-clearing price, the carved-out resources are removed completely from the supply curve, while the demand curve is unchanged. This market price approach essentially ignores the existence of carved-out resources.

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Exhibit 2 - Capacity prices under different scenarios

2021/2022 RTO prices ($/UCAP MW-day)

 Subsidy Case  Status Quo Price   RCO Price   Extended ERO Price 
 Base Case  140  140  150
 Base Case + NJ  125  125  150
 Base Case + NJ + PA + OH   100  100  210
 Base Case + NJ + PA + OH + IL   70   70  482*
*At price ceiling of 1.5 times the Net CONE
  • Base Case – only Quad Cities is subsidized, and no new subsidies are applied.
  • Base Case + NJ – the New Jersey nuclear units are also subsidized.
  • Base Case + NJ + PA + OH – the Pennsylvania and Ohio nuclear units are also subsidized.
  • Base Case + NJ + PA + OH + IL – the remaining Illinois nuclear units are also subsidized.

What does this mean for PJM, capacity markets, and nuclear generation?

Efforts to support nuclear energy and meet emissions goals through state measures have reached a turning point within PJM, considering FERCs mandate for market reform. Acceptance and performance of these or other market reforms within PJM—the first to tackle the impact of state subsidies—will have a lasting effect on the economics of future energy generation development for the rest of the nation.

These potential changes would drive new trends in regional price separation, the continued economic competitiveness of nuclear generation, and the growth of natural gas combined-cycle and additional sources of generation in the PJM market. Other regional market participants in either Independent Service Operator-New England or Midcontinent Independent System Operator will be watching to see how they should plan for market or state reforms in response to these developments.

To understand the specific implications these proposals would have on the regional and generation dynamics of PJM—and to see ICF’s methodology—download our white paper: The Potential Impacts of PJM Market Reforms.

Meet the authors
  1. Ilkka Kovanen, Senior Consultant, Energy Markets

    Ilkka specializes in quantitative modeling and analysis of power markets and individual market resources, market research, thought leadership, and model development. View bio

  2. George Katsigiannakis, Vice President, Energy Power Markets

    George is an expert in U.S. electricity markets with a deep understanding of all factors affecting U.S. wholesale electric markets including market design, environmental regulations, fuel markets, transmission, renewable, energy efficiency, and demand side management. View bio

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