Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Region power set to meet demand
PJM Interconnection keeps electricity flowing to 65 million Americans
There have been a lot of changes and uncertainty for businesses and residents over the past couple of months, due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
As summer approaches, residents and businesses want to be assured that when they need electricity — it is there.
PJM Interconnection, which operates the nation’s largest electric grid, says it has the resources available and is prepared to meet summer demand for customers in 13 states and the District of Columbia — including Pennsylvania.
While summer doesn’t officially begin for several weeks, temperatures across the region have already flirted with 80 degrees with higher humidity. The National Weather Service is forecasting above-average temperatures this summer for almost the entire PJM footprint, including the Mid-Atlantic states and parts of the South and Midwest.
“The summer is normally when electricity use is at its highest, and along with our members, we prepare for summer operations throughout the year,” Manu Asthana, PJM president and CEO, said in a press release. “Although the coronavirus pandemic has brought new dynamics for us to consider in our forecasting and operational preparedness, we’re confident that we will be able to meet customer needs.”
System operators at PJM have forecast electricity use to peak at approximately 148,000 MW this summer — a level they say they are prepared to meet. Last summer’s peak demand was over 151,000 MW, which occurred on July 19. PJM’s all-time, one-day highest power use was 165,563 MW in the summer of 2006 at 165,563 MW. One megawatt can power about 800 homes.
A “peak” refers to the highest demand for electricity the system will experience in one day. During the summer months, demand typically rises during the day, peaking later — when people are using more electricity to power up air conditioners, fans, appliances and lights.
“We already have the capacity in place — that is planned three years ahead. So we are using the summer forecast that we first published in January of about 148,000 peak this summer,” Susan Buehler, a spokeswoman for PJM Interconnection said Friday in an emailed response to questions.
Preparing for variables
Unknown at this point according to the grid operator, is how the continuing pandemic will affect peak load this summer as air conditioning use evolves among residential, commercial and industrial customers.
So far, the pandemic-related restrictions introduced in mid-March have driven down peak demand, with closures of commercial, industrial and institutional power users offsetting the increased electricity use by people working from home.
“The pandemic has changed a lot of things at PJM — how we work, how we keep our campus and control room safe, and how people use electricity. At the same time, it has not changed the way we plan for summer and the demand that hot weather brings,” Buehler said, adding that peak energy use has been down about 10% over the past two months, “but we have to be prepared for the demand to return as stores and businesses reopen and people go back to their offices.”
PJM has more than 187,000 MW of installed generating capacity available to meet customer needs, with sufficient resources available in reserve to cover generation that is unexpectedly unavailable, or for other unanticipated changes in demand.
Planning
With its headquarters in Lower Providence, nearly 25% of the nation’s electricity goes through PJM, according Buehler.
“Reliability is paramount for the 65 million people we serve,” she said.
Planning is an important part of assuring reliability of the grid. Part of that planning is practicing for various scenarios that could impact operations.
And yes, that planning also includes pandemics.
“PJM and other Regional Transmission Organizations have been planning for pandemics for years. PJM first adopted its Pandemic Response Plan in 2006,” Buehler said.
PJM Interconnection also takes part in annual drills. And while Buehler said the organization hasn’t specifically drilled for this pandemic, drills such as GridEx last fall, help PJM prepare to operate face scenarios like storms, cyber-attacks, physical attacks and others. She added that the drills are an opportunity to learn from PJM’s experiences and the experiences of its partners, “so that we can be even better prepared the next time.”
PJM’s planning also includes coordination with its members — working with transmission and generation owners throughout the spring to ensure that critical maintenance and system improvements have been completed.
The PJM Interconnection coordinates the movement of electricity across the areas covered by its member utility companies. PJM is made up of transmission owning utilities that operate on a regional basis — working together to plan for maintenance and operating situations. Among the members are PECO, Met-Ed, PPL Corp., PSE&G and Delmarva Power.
In PJM’s control room, system operators use technology to monitor, control and direct the power grid 24/7 to balance supply and demand.
Since January, PJM has taken steps to protect its employees, contractors and stakeholders while maintaining reliability, including the addition of a third system control room this spring that provides PJM with a high level of operational flexibility.
It also enabled PJM to dedicate a team of operators to each of the control rooms, according to Buehler.
“Everything that we have done is to ensure the reliability of the electrical system while protecting the health and safety of those who make it work,” she added.
Some of the other steps taken include: the elimination of international travel/international visits to PJM; enhanced cleaning efforts; 14day self-quarantine for returning international travelers; telecommuting for employees, social distancing on campus; implemented dedicated building entrances for system operators; increased social distancing in control rooms; announced work-from-home will continue through Labor Day.
Founded in 1927, PJM Interconnection ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system in all or parts of Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. For more information visit insidelines.pjm.com.
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