PJM Board Appoints David E. Mills as President and CEO

Why It Matters

Mills’ permanent appointment provides leadership continuity for the nation’s largest grid operator, reinforcing reliability and policy engagement amid a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Key Takeaways

• David E. Mills becomes PJM's fifth permanent CEO
• Mills served as interim CEO and board chair since January 2026
• He previously led policy at Puget Sound Energy and DOE's BPA
• Appointment targets stronger engagement with members, policymakers, and regulators
• PJM aims to maintain reliability amid evolving supply‑demand dynamics

Pulse Analysis

PJM Interconnection, the largest regional transmission organization in the United States, announced on May 8 that its Board of Managers has appointed David E. Mills as president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2026. The move ends a brief interim period that began in January, providing the grid operator with a permanent leader for the first time in three years. As the fifth permanent CEO, Mills inherits a portfolio that balances real‑time reliability, market design, and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. The organization coordinates the flow of electricity for over 65 million customers across 13 states and the District of Columbia, handling more than $200 billion in annual energy transactions.

Mills brings more than two decades of experience across the power and natural‑gas sectors. Prior to joining PJM, he served as senior vice president of policy and energy supply and chief strategy officer at Puget Sound Energy, and earlier held senior roles at the Department of Energy’s Bonneville Power Administration. His tenure on the PJM Board since 2021, including a year as chair, gives him intimate knowledge of the organization’s governance and stakeholder dynamics. His naval service as a helicopter aircrewman and rescue swimmer also underscores a disciplined, mission‑focused leadership style that resonates with PJM’s safety‑first culture.

The leadership change arrives as PJM confronts unprecedented supply‑demand imbalances driven by the transition to renewable generation and tighter emissions standards. Industry observers expect Mills to prioritize reliability—PJM’s “north star”—while accelerating collaboration with state regulators, federal agencies, and member utilities to modernize market rules. Moreover, Mills’ certification by the National Association of Corporate Directors signals a commitment to robust governance, a factor increasingly scrutinized by investors and regulators alike. If successful, the new tenure could reinforce PJM’s position as a benchmark for grid resilience, influencing policy debates and investment decisions across the Eastern Interconnection.