# Essential Power Rock Springs LLC

PJM Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/essential-power-rock-springs-llc

Essential Power Rock Springs LLC is a natural gas-fired power facility with 795.6 MW of EIA-reported nameplate capacity in Cecil County, Maryland, registered as EIA Plant ID 7835. Essential Power Rock Springs LLC is the public owner or developer; Essential Power Operating Services LLC is the registered plant entity or operator. The plant's generating configuration is four air-cooled, simple-cycle, natural-gas-fired combustion turbines. Commercial operation began in November 2002. The facility interconnects at Rock Springs Substation at 500 kV.

## Key facts

- Technology: Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine
- Power capacity: 795.6 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: PJM
- Balancing authority: PJM Interconnection, LLC
- Substation: Rock Springs Substation
- Point of interconnection: Rock Springs Substation
- Transmission owner: PECO Energy Company
- Interconnection voltage: 500 kV

## Source-backed facts

- Identifiers: [{"value":"7835","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.","system":"Balancing authority / RTO"},{"value":"1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"4","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT1","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT2","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT3","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT4","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCK-SPRI-CT4","system":"PJM wholesale-sales location designation"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT1","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT2","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT3","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT4","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ER14-714-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"ER18-2002-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"EL25-6-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"7835","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.","system":"Balancing authority / RTO"},{"value":"1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"4","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT1","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT2","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT3","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT4","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCK-SPRI-CT4","system":"PJM wholesale-sales location designation"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT1","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT2","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT3","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT4","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ER14-714-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"ER18-2002-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"EL25-6-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Federal Register :: Combined Notice of Filings #1 · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"7835","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.","system":"Balancing authority / RTO"},{"value":"1","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"2","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"3","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"4","system":"EIA generator ID"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT1","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT2","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT3","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCKSPRI-CT4","system":"PJM RTO/ISO LMP node"},{"value":"ROCK-SPRI-CT4","system":"PJM wholesale-sales location designation"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT1","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT2","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT3","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT4","system":"PJM RPM market resource"},{"value":"ER14-714-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"ER18-2002-005","system":"FERC docket"},{"value":"EL25-6-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Federal Register :: Institution of Section 206 Proceeding and Refund Effective Date: Essential Power Rock Springs, LLC · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.11: {"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT1","system":"PJM RPM market resource"} — Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.12: {"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT2","system":"PJM RPM market resource"} — Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.13: {"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT3","system":"PJM RPM market resource"} — Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.14: {"value":"ROCK SPRINGS CT4","system":"PJM RPM market resource"} — Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.15: {"value":"ER14-714-005","system":"FERC docket"} — Federal Register :: Combined Notice of Filings #1 · confidence: high
- Identifiers.16: {"value":"ER18-2002-005","system":"FERC docket"} — Federal Register :: Combined Notice of Filings #1 · confidence: high
- Identifiers.17: {"value":"EL25-6-000","system":"FERC docket"} — Federal Register :: Institution of Section 206 Proceeding and Refund Effective Date: Essential Power Rock Springs, LLC · confidence: high
- Unit configuration: Four air-cooled, simple-cycle, natural-gas-fired combustion turbines. — Source · confidence: high
- Unit count: 4 — Source · confidence: high
- Product url: https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/7f — 7F Heavy Duty Gas Turbine | 7F.04/7F.05 | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Kind: thermal — AIR AND RADIATION ADMINISTRATION DRAFT PART 70 OPERATING PERMIT DOCKET # 24-015-0202 : Rock Springs Generation Facility COMPANY : 1423 · confidence: high
- Manufacturer domain: gevernova.com — 7F Heavy Duty Gas Turbine | 7F.04/7F.05 | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Product family: GE 7 FA — 7F Heavy Duty Gas Turbine | 7F.04/7F.05 | GE Vernova · confidence: medium
- Description: Essential Power Rock Springs LLC is an operating natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility at 1423 Rock Springs Road in Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland. Maryland permitting records describe four GE 7FA turbines, each nominally rated at approximately 190 MW, and identify Essential Power Rock Springs LLC as owner and Essential Power Operating Services LLC as operator. The project was developed by Con Edison Development together with Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, passed through North American Energy Alliance ownership, and was transferred into the Essential Power structure in 2013. Carlyle acquired the broader Essential Power portfolio from IFM Investors in 2016; Quantum subsequently acquired Cogentrix from Carlyle in 2024, and Vistra announced an agreement in January 2026 to acquire Cogentrix, including Rock Springs, subject to regulatory approvals. — AIR AND RADIATION ADMINISTRATION DRAFT PART 70 OPERATING PERMIT DOCKET # 24-015-0202 : Rock Springs Generation Facility COMPANY : 1423 · confidence: medium
- Description: Essential Power Rock Springs LLC is an operating natural-gas-fired simple-cycle facility at 1423 Rock Springs Road in Rising Sun, Cecil County, Maryland. Maryland permitting records describe four GE 7FA turbines, each nominally rated at approximately 190 MW, and identify Essential Power Rock Springs LLC as owner and Essential Power Operating Services LLC as operator. The project was developed by Con Edison Development together with Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, passed through North American Energy Alliance ownership, and was transferred into the Essential Power structure in 2013. Carlyle acquired the broader Essential Power portfolio from IFM Investors in 2016; Quantum subsequently acquired Cogentrix from Carlyle in 2024, and Vistra announced an agreement in January 2026 to acquire Cogentrix, including Rock Springs, subject to regulatory approvals. — Vistra to Bolster Gas-Fired Fleet by 5.5 GW with $4B Cogentrix Acquisition · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: In July 2012, Standard & Poor’s described Essential Power’s refinancing of debt originally raised in 2008–2009, when the company was known as North American Energy Alliance. The refinancing comprised a $565 million senior secured first-lien term loan and a $100 million senior secured first-lien revolving credit and letter-of-credit facility, replacing or refinancing an outstanding $310 million first-lien facility and $205 million in second-lien securities; the term loan was to mature in 2019 and the revolver in 2017. The cited record presents this as portfolio-level corporate/project debt rather than a Rock Springs-specific facility. Separately, Carlyle’s 2016 acquisition of Essential Power from IFM Investors was for an undisclosed amount, Quantum’s August 2024 acquisition of Cogentrix from Carlyle carried approximately $3 billion of total consideration, and Vistra’s January 2026 agreement described approximately $4.0 billion of net purchase price consisting of approximately $2.3 billion cash, $0.9 billion of Vistra stock, assumed $1.5 billion of Cogentrix debt, and $0.7 billion of expected tax benefits. — Essential Power LLC $665 Million In Senior Secure | S&P Global Ratings · confidence: medium
- Financing summary: In July 2012, Standard & Poor’s described Essential Power’s refinancing of debt originally raised in 2008–2009, when the company was known as North American Energy Alliance. The refinancing comprised a $565 million senior secured first-lien term loan and a $100 million senior secured first-lien revolving credit and letter-of-credit facility, replacing or refinancing an outstanding $310 million first-lien facility and $205 million in second-lien securities; the term loan was to mature in 2019 and the revolver in 2017. The cited record presents this as portfolio-level corporate/project debt rather than a Rock Springs-specific facility. Separately, Carlyle’s 2016 acquisition of Essential Power from IFM Investors was for an undisclosed amount, Quantum’s August 2024 acquisition of Cogentrix from Carlyle carried approximately $3 billion of total consideration, and Vistra’s January 2026 agreement described approximately $4.0 billion of net purchase price consisting of approximately $2.3 billion cash, $0.9 billion of Vistra stock, assumed $1.5 billion of Cogentrix debt, and $0.7 billion of expected tax benefits. — Quantum Capital Group to Acquire Cogentrix from Carlyle for $3 Billion | Carlyle · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.2: {"relationship":"Asset manager and operational manager","name":"Cogentrix Energy Power Management, LLC","detail":"Cogentrix managed, operated, and maintained the Essential Power/Nautilus portfolio under Carlyle and remained the operating platform acquired by Quantum in 2024.","official_url":"https://www.cogentrix.com/"} — Hull Street Energy Acquires Carlyle Assets | Hull Street Energy · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.2: {"relationship":"Asset manager and operational manager","name":"Cogentrix Energy Power Management, LLC","detail":"Cogentrix managed, operated, and maintained the Essential Power/Nautilus portfolio under Carlyle and remained the operating platform acquired by Quantum in 2024.","official_url":"https://www.cogentrix.com/"} — Vistra to Bolster Gas-Fired Fleet by 5.5 GW with $4B Cogentrix Acquisition · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.3: {"relationship":"Current portfolio owner since 2024","name":"Quantum Capital Group","detail":"Announced and completed the approximately $3 billion acquisition of Cogentrix from Carlyle in August 2024, bringing Rock Springs into the Quantum-owned Cogentrix portfolio.","official_url":"https://www.quantumcap.com/"} — Vistra to Bolster Gas-Fired Fleet by 5.5 GW with $4B Cogentrix Acquisition · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.3: {"relationship":"Current portfolio owner since 2024","name":"Quantum Capital Group","detail":"Announced and completed the approximately $3 billion acquisition of Cogentrix from Carlyle in August 2024, bringing Rock Springs into the Quantum-owned Cogentrix portfolio.","official_url":"https://www.quantumcap.com/"} — Quantum Capital Group to Acquire Cogentrix from Carlyle for $3 Billion | Carlyle · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"2016 buyer and 2024 seller","name":"The Carlyle Group","detail":"Agreed to acquire the Essential Power portfolio from IFM Investors in 2016 and later agreed to sell Cogentrix to Quantum for approximately $3 billion in 2024.","official_url":"https://www.carlyle.com/"} — Quantum Capital Group to Acquire Cogentrix from Carlyle for $3 Billion | Carlyle · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.9: {"relationship":"Predecessor ownership platform","name":"North American Energy Alliance","detail":"The Maryland Department of the Environment states that North American Energy Alliance acquired Consolidated Edison Development in June 2008; the 2012 refinancing record identifies Essential Power as formerly known as North American Energy Alliance.","official_url":null} — Essential Power LLC $665 Million In Senior Secure | S&P Global Ratings · confidence: medium
- Commercial parties.10: {"relationship":"RTO / market operator","name":"PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.","detail":"Rock Springs participates in PJM and is represented by the ROCKSPRI-CT1 through ROCKSPRI-CT4 market resources and nodes.","official_url":"https://www.pjm.com/"} — Source · confidence: high
- Later sale or transfer: In 2024, FERC authorized a proposed upstream ownership transfer under which Q-Generation, LLC would acquire all indirect ownership interests in Rock Springs from investment funds managed or advised by Carlyle; the related transaction transferred 100% of the interests in CPP II Master Holdco. On 2026-01-05, Vistra separately announced an agreement to acquire Cogentrix, listing Rock Springs, Maryland, among the assets and stating that it would acquire 100% ownership of the listed plants; closing was expected in mid-to-late 2026 and was not yet documented as completed by 2026-08-02. — Vistra Adds to its Industry-Leading Generation Portfolio with Acquisition of Cogentrix - Jan 5, 2026 · confidence: medium
- Substation: Rock Springs Substation — Source · confidence: medium

## Timeline

- 2002-11 — Commercial operations reported by SRBC
  The SRBC stated that Rock Springs began commercial operations in November 2002.
  Source: Source (https://www.srbc.gov/waav/Search/getpending?projectnumber=2025-084&documenttype=Application&isabre=False)

## Sources

- [Generation Capacity Resources in PJM Region Subject to ...](https://www.monitoringanalytics.com/reports/Market_Messages/RPM_Material/IMM_Notice_re_RPM_Must_Offer_Obligations_20240716.pdf) — monitoringanalytics.com · tier other
- [Federal Register :: Combined Notice of Filings #1](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/11/2026-02737/combined-notice-of-filings-1) — federalregister.gov · tier regulatory
- [Federal Register :: Institution of Section 206 Proceeding and Refund Effective Date: Essential Power Rock Springs, LLC](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/29/2024-27974/institution-of-section-206-proceeding-and-refund-effective-date-essential-power-rock-springs-llc) — federalregister.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://www.srbc.gov/waav/Search/getpending?projectnumber=2025-084&documenttype=Application&isabre=False) — srbc.gov · tier regulatory
- [Rock Springs Generation Facility L](https://mde.maryland.gov/programs/permits/AirManagementPermits/Documents/Public-Review/new%20Title%20V%20public%20review/Rock%20Springs%20Docket%20for%20Web%202024.pdf) — mde.maryland.gov · tier regulatory
- [7F Heavy Duty Gas Turbine | 7F.04/7F.05 | GE Vernova](https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/7f) — gevernova.com · tier other
- [Vistra Adds to its Industry-Leading Generation Portfolio with Acquisition of Cogentrix - Jan 5, 2026](https://investor.vistracorp.com/2026-01-05-Vistra-Adds-to-its-Industry-Leading-Generation-Portfolio-with-Acquisition-of-Cogentrix) — investor.vistracorp.com · tier other
- [Vistra to Bolster Gas-Fired Fleet by 5.5 GW with $4B Cogentrix Acquisition](https://www.powermag.com/vistra-to-bolster-gas-fired-fleet-by-5-5-gw-with-4b-cogentrix-acquisition/) — powermag.com · tier other
- [Essential Power LLC $665 Million In Senior Secure | S&P Global Ratings](https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/type/HTML/id/2040430) — spglobal.com · tier other
- [Quantum Capital Group to Acquire Cogentrix from Carlyle for $3 Billion | Carlyle](https://www.carlyle.com/media-room/news-release-archive/quantum-capital-group-acquire-cogentrix-carlyle-3-billion) — carlyle.com · tier other
- [The Carlyle Group to acquire power generation portfolio from IFM Investors | IFM Investors](https://www.ifminvestors.com/news-and-insights/media-centre/the-carlyle-group-to-acquire-power-generation-portfolio-from-ifm-investors/) — ifminvestors.com · tier other
- [Hull Street Energy Acquires Carlyle Assets | Hull Street Energy](https://www.hullstreetenergy.com/blog/hull-street-energy-completes-acquisition-of-hydroelectric-assets-from-carlyle/) — hullstreetenergy.com · tier other
- [Source](https://monitoringanalytics.com/reports/Market_Messages/RPM_Material/IMM_Notice_re_RPM_Must_Offer_Obligations_20240716.pdf) — monitoringanalytics.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.puc.pa.gov/pcdocs/1851334.pdf) — puc.pa.gov · tier regulatory
- [PJM - Generation Deactivations](https://www.pjm.com/planning/service-requests/gen-deactivations.aspx) — pjm.com · tier other

## Data quality

- Capacity figures use different reporting bases: the EIA-derived plant record lists 795.6 MW of nameplate capacity, the SRBC describes 750 MW of combined maximum capacity, and Vistra’s 2026 portfolio table lists Rock Springs at 740 MW. Commercial-operation dates differ by source: the SRBC states November 2002, while the EIA-derived record and a GlobalData plant profile state June 2003. Vistra’s January 2026 agreement was expected to close in mid-to-late 2026 and should be treated as a pending announced acquisition rather than a completed sale as of August 2, 2026.

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