Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Power grid ready for summer demand
PJM Interconnection is prepared to keep electricity flowing
When summer temperatures start to reach the 80s, 90s — or even higher — residents and businesses expect their electricity to flow without interruption.
PJM Interconnection — the operator of the country’s largest electric grid — said Monday it has the resources available to meet anticipated peak summer demand and keep power flowing to the 65 million people it serves.
“PJM continues to ensure that the power supply is secure and reliable while maintaining efficient and transparent markets that save billions of dollars for our customers,” Andrew L. Ott, PJM president and CEO said in a press release. “We have planned and prepared for summer operations and we have plenty of reserves to meet the demand.”
The mid- Atlantic region has already experienced some unseasonably warm days, and the National Weather Service is predicting above- average temperatures this summer.
As part of its annual summer assessment, PJM Interconnection’s planners anticipate electricity use to peak at more than 150,000megawatts ( MW) during the summer months.
The demand last summer peaked at 145,331 MW on July 19. PJM’s all- time highest power use was 165,492M Win the summer of 2006.
PJM interconnection is based in Lower Providence, and works “behind the scenes” to coordinate the movement of electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia. A membership organization, 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.
PJM meets electricity needs by procuring through its competitive markets, enough resources to satisfy peak demand plus required reserves — at the lowest reasonable cost. PJM works with its members to ensure that power flows where it is needed and holds resources, such as generating plants, to
strict standards to deliver electricity as promised, according to the release.
At PJM control centers, system operators use technology to monitor, control and direct the power grid 24/ 7 to balance supply and demand. The operators adjust the production of generating plants to changes in demand, and make sure that no transmission lines or facilities are overloaded. The system operators also watch for unusual conditions and react to them to protect the electricity supply.
“When the operators are directing the flow of energy, they are sending signals to direct generators up, down, on or off, to make sure that power is moving from the source directly to the end user customer and businesses,” said Chris Pilong, PJM director of dispatch, adding that PJM operators are prepared to expect the unexpected.
“They are trained and prepared for thousands of ‘ what if’ scenarios. They are continuously monitoring the system and reacting if, and when a situation occurs,” Pilong added.
PJM experts study thousands of scenarios, assisted by computer simulations to prepare for almost any event. Each variable that conceivably could affect supply and demand for electricity is carefully assessed, according to the release.
In the summer months, electricity demand typically rises during the day, peaking later — around 5 or 6 p. m. Weather across the PJM footprint can impact demand.
“The amount of electricity we use across the system each day is highly dependent on the weather,” said Elizabath Anastasio, PJM meteorologist. “The role of weather for a company like PJM is important. It impacts the amount of electricity used in homes and businesses; and in some cases, the amount of electricity that we’re able to produce.”
PJM is required to maintain reserves in case demand is higher than forecasted or generation is unexpectedly unavailable.
The required reserve margin is 16.1 percent. This season, PJM will operate with a reserve margin of 28 percent, or nearly 41,000megawatts. PJM has 184,010 MW of installed generating capacity available. One megawatt can power about 800 homes.
PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the highvoltage electric power system-serving 65 million people 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. PJM coordinates and directs the operation of the region’s transmission grid, which includes more than 82,000 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. PJM’s regional grid and market operations produce annual savings of $ 2.8 billion to $ 3.1 billion. For the latest news about PJM, visit PJM Inside Lines at insidelines.pjm.com.”