ABSTRACT The Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs) can be influential in containing power system frequency fluctuations. This study, therefore, investigates the efficacy of frequency regulation for PEV-integrated multi-area power network using Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) and Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) optimized Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) control. Instant investigation not only brings out the relative competence of GWO and SSA but also examines the impact of PEV in improving the system performance. The varying operating conditions are realized by subjecting the system to step and random load variations in either or both of the areas. With the proposed control scheme and involvement of PEV, system frequency and tie-line power excursions settle quicker with their peak swings also getting restricted to a lower value, while the oscillations are arrested as well to a great extent. Further, it’s the SSA that shows its superiority over GWO as per the simulation results executed in MATLAB.