Electric generation capacity prices are expected to increase significantly across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest beginning in June, affecting both business and residential consumers. The power grid’s procurement of capacity for summer peaks through auctions has resulted in unprecedented price levels in 2025. Analysts predict that these high prices will be sustained and may even escalate in subsequent years as coal and natural gas power plants are retired concurrently with growing electric demand stemming from industrial development, data centers, electric vehicle charging, and other electrification efforts.
When demand goes up and supply goes down, prices naturally have to rise.
But some savvy customers are avoiding these cost increases by installing batteries and solar panels to provide their own electric power and energy supply. Intelligent Generation manages systems like these to optimize the cost reduction they provide by strategically charging and discharging the batteries, and one keyway is to provide replacement generation capacity at grid peaks.
Illinois is leading the way with proposed legislation to support installation of thousands of megawatts of battery energy storage. The batteries can store clean energy generated during times of low use, like at night, and discharge it during peak times. However, the story in Illinois is more complicated as its two main utilities, ComEd in the north and Ameren in the south and central areas, are on different wholesale power grids. In Sunday’s Chicago Tribune, writer John Lippert wrote a very informative in-depth article on the implications to rate payers in each utility.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/11/illinois-power-grids-clean-energy/
The impending closure of coal and natural gas plants within the next five years, coupled with the state’s struggle to integrate renewable energy sources like wind and solar quickly enough, creates a significant energy shortfall, potentially leaving Ameren with only 30% of the electricity it needs by 2045.
This price volatility and the increasing demand signal a clear need for proactive energy management solutions, and this is where Intelligent Generation can provide crucial assistance.
As an example of businesses installing their own electric supply, the Tribune highlights Pilkington Glass in Ottawa which is partnering with solar companies like SolAmerica Energy to develop an on-site 2-megawatt solar array. As John Buffington of SolAmerica Energy aptly notes, there is a growing interest in on-site solar projects as entities seek to save money and gain more control over their operational expenses related to electricity.
Many customers are also adding batteries to their solar projects. For more than ten years, Intelligent Generation has been a trusted partner for businesses operating within the PJM footprint. Our advanced POWR:Suite software platform expertly manages and dispatches large-scale battery storage assets, consistently delivering tangible and significant advantages. We understand the volatility of energy markets and have a long-standing track record of empowering our customers to:
- Earn Revenue: Our intelligent systems actively participate in energy markets, identifying and capitalizing on opportunities to generate revenue streams directly for your business. This helps offset your overall energy expenditure and turn your energy assets into profit centers.
- Save Money: By strategically charging our battery systems during periods of lower electricity prices and intelligently discharging that stored energy when prices peak, we drastically reduce your reliance on expensive grid power. This optimized energy management translates directly into substantial savings on your monthly electricity bills.
- Protect Operations: Our robust battery storage solutions provide a reliable and immediate backup power source. This critical protection ensures business continuity during grid outages or sudden, costly price spikes, safeguarding your valuable operations and preventing significant financial losses.
Intelligent Generation isn’t a newcomer to this landscape. We have a deep understanding of the PJM market dynamics and a long-established history of delivering these tangible benefits to a rapidly growing fleet of satisfied customers. Our decade-long experience and the success stories of our partners within the PJM region speak volumes about the effectiveness and reliability of our solutions.
Don’t let the impending wave of inflated electricity bills negatively impact your profitability. Intelligent Generation offers a proactive and proven approach to take control of your energy future.
Reach out to the Intelligent Generation team today for a consultation. Discover how our tailored battery storage solutions, powered by our cutting-edge POWR:Suite software and backed by over a decade of success within PJM, can provide immediate relief from these soaring energy costs and ensure a more resilient and cost-effective energy strategy for your business. Let our history of success and our growing family of satisfied customers be the assurance you need in these challenging energy times.
Source:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/05/11/illinois-power-grids-clean-energy/