That said, Pennsylvania's law is in some ways similar to California's. The plan funneled money to utilities to pay off bad investments and in exchange, retail rates were capped. But unlike California, utilities weren't forced to sell off their generating capacity and they were allowed to enter into forward agreements for power. Pennsylvania didn't set up a mandatory power spot market. The state allowed direct retail access.
Generators can and do enter into direct deals with commercial and industrial users.
The state also benefited from good circumstance. The PJM Interconnection had been running an integrated power grid for Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, D.C., and part of Virginia since 1927. That greatly eased the transition. Power supply is plentiful. The PJM can call on 57,000 megawatts for its 9.5 million customers.