Overview
- Executive Order No. 1 targets near-term affordability by authorizing bill credits by July 1, empowering the Board of Public Utilities to pause or modify rate cases, and requiring a 180‑day study to modernize utility revenue models.
- Executive Order No. 2 compels fast-track procurements: solar and transmission‑scale battery solicitations within 45 days, opening 3 GW of Community Solar registration in the same window, launching storage Phase 2 within 90 days, and starting a virtual power plant program within 180 days.
- Sherrill directed regulators to prioritize direct bill assistance by revisiting Clean Energy Program budgets and to consider using Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative proceeds to offset rising electricity costs.
- The orders also contemplate reliability measures, including possible delay of a July 2027 plant emissions deadline, expedited permitting for gas plant efficiency and capacity upgrades, and formation of a Nuclear Power Task Force.
- Officials cite PJM capacity price spikes, interconnection delays, and speculative data‑center “ghost loads” as key cost drivers; utilities urged caution on reliability as clean‑energy groups backed the accelerated solar, storage, and VPP plan.