Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy
Asthana PJM Interconnection is a membership organization , providing services on a revenue-neutral basis to more than 1,000 members . Our membership represents five sectors : generation owners , transmission owners , electric distributors , other suppliers , and end-use customers . PJM members share the benefits of power pooling ( access to electricity resources across a broad geographical region ) and competitive wholesale electricity markets . PJM members have a vote in the PJM stakeholder process — a thorough governance system designed to work through issues related to operations , markets , planning , and other matters — and recommend proposals to our Board of Managers . PJM and its Board of Managers are fully independent from our members ; we are technology- and fuel-neutral , and do not own or maintain any transmission or generating assets .
Krieg PJM Board of Managers Chair Ake Almgren announced last November that you were appointed President and CEO , effective January 6 of this year . The announcement happened a few weeks before the first case of COVID-19 was known . So your first six months at PJM coincided with a worldwide pandemic ... what ’ s that been like ?
Asthana It has been fascinating and humbling . When I showed up , I wanted to make a difference , but I have learned from experience that you don ’ t always get to select the way you can make a difference . The script gets written , and each of us has to rise to the occasion . That is what I have aspired to do , and what I believe my people have been doing . To say these are unusual times is an understatement . When I started as PJM ’ s CEO , I never dreamed that inside of two months we would be facing this global health crisis . During the first week of January , which , as you say , was also my first week on the job , I had a discussion with my team about the coronavirus . By mid-January , we had made the call to limit all international travel to and from our campus in Valley Forge , and later to restrict business travel by our staff .
On March 13 , we started telecommuting in the face of the worsening pandemic . Only essential workers have been back to campus since that day . Right now , we are focused on ensuring the secure , reliable , continuous operation of the grid while keeping our employees and our members safe . It ’ s been quite an experience , and certainly a privilege to work with this great team , which includes the many member companies who work with us in tandem to generate and deliver the electricity that powers modern life .
Krieg So far , have any generation or transmission resources under your pur- 8