Jordan’s New Electricity Law Requires Energy Storage for 27% of Renewable Energy to Balance Supply and Demand, Promotes Nationwide Smart Meter Coverage
On August 17, Anni Azam, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, confirmed that the country’s new electricity law incorporates modern concepts designed to support the stability of the power system and align with global energy transition trends. She pointed out that as renewable energy now contributes close to 27% of the total electricity generation in the Kingdom—primarily from solar power—energy storage systems have become essential to address the decline in power output during nighttime hours.
The law introduces the concept of an independent transmission system aimed at attracting investment in the green hydrogen industry. By establishing a transmission network separate from the national grid to connect self-generation plants and energy storage units, it will support the power load supply for this industry chain.
Regarding the electricity pricing mechanism, Azam emphasized that the core principle remains unchanged: ensuring investors receive reasonable returns while complying with license requirements for efficiency and performance standards, such as reducing electricity losses, shortening delivery times, and limiting outages. Additionally, the law mandates the acquisition of financial liens during real estate transfer procedures to safeguard the integrity of financial transactions related to electricity. Employees of electricity distribution companies have already been stationed at land departments to streamline processes for citizens.
Azam stated that the Ministry of Energy is advancing the smart meter project, with plans to cover all provinces in the Kingdom by the end of the year. This initiative aims to improve service efficiency and enhance the transparency and accuracy of consumption calculations. These measures are part of the ministry’s vision to promote fairness and transparency in the electricity sector, protect consumer rights, and enhance service quality. Smart meters will enable consumers to monitor their electricity usage directly, help distribution companies reduce power losses, and increase network efficiency—ultimately benefiting the entire national electricity system.
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New Jersey Governor Signs Two Grid Reform Bills, Mandates BPU to Review Pricing Mechanism Within One Year and Promotes Clean Energy Supply
On August 15, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed two bills, AJR216/SJR154 and A5463/S4363, aimed at enhancing public accountability and transparency in the decision-making of regional grid operator PJM and its members, in response to soaring electricity prices affecting New Jersey and regional consumers. These bills strengthen long-term action plans to protect consumer interests through rigorous review of PJM’s pricing model, address the shortage of new power generation sources, and advance clean energy goals.
The AJR216/SJR154 bill ensures that New Jersey takes a leading role in coordinating with other PJM states by requiring PJM to use a reliability pricing model in its annual capacity market auctions to secure adequate resources at the lowest cost. The legislation directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to examine whether this model advances these objectives while continuing to advocate for PJM reforms alongside other states, including increasing power supply, protecting consumers, and prioritizing clean energy generation. Under legal mandate, the BPU must submit an investigative report to the governor and legislature within one year, ensuring transparency throughout the reform process.
Since PJM’s capacity market auction in June 2024, New Jersey has repeatedly sent letters to the PJM Board and submitted filings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging improvements to capacity market rules. Simultaneously, the state is actively incentivizing the development of new in-state power generation to meet growing electricity demand influenced by regional grid factors and to ensure a just transition.
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