Applicant witness cites PJM capacity shortfall as a signal of need; cautions it is not dispositive

During cross-examination, counsel read aloud Scofield's rebuttal discussion of PJM auction results for the 2029 delivery year, noting an uncovered UCAP shortage figure. The counsel asked whether Scofield agreed PJM had a filing with FERC proposing a reliability backstop procurement to address the same quantity. Scofield said he was aware of the filing and characterized the backstop as "first of its kind" with unknown results.

When asked whether the PJM shortfall alone proved the prices in this proceeding should be approved, Scofield said it did not in itself prove that, but that it is a useful signal about PJM supply and demand balance. The exchange highlighted how applicant witnesses used regional capacity indicators to frame the urgency of new capacity while acknowledging other processes (such as PJM’s filing) are underway and carry their own uncertainty.