The pandemic’s impact on our electric grid
This pandemic has forced us to dramatically transition to online meetings and remote learning or streaming services and cell phones; and brought heightened attention to critical health services and ventilators with concerns over the health of our neighbors.
What these all have in common is dependence on the steady flow of electricity produced by power plants.
Electric generating companies are today working with public officials, utilities, and the region’s grid operator, ISO New England, to keep electricity flowing. At more than 50 facilities across Connecticut, this incredible workforce is showing itself to be up to the unprecedented challenge we currently face.
Across Connecticut and New England, power plants have developed pandemic response plans that outline proactive procedures to maintain workforce and operational security, with contingency plans to provide employees with the food and supplies needed should they be sequestered on site for an extended period of time.
No such protocols have been called for, but the industry remains prepared should additional steps be necessary to maintain public health and resilience.
In the meantime, individual plants are conducting temperature testing and screening employees and contractors, requiring use of company-issued personal protection equipment (PPE), increasing deep cleanings and sanitizing facilities, rotating shifts, staggering rotations, and requiring social distancing.
Generating stations have canceled or postponed non-essential projects in order to focus on core functions of maintaining reliable generation and mitigating the health risks to plant employees. Power generation companies are also maintaining vigilance over IT infrastructure since many functions now rely on employees working remotely over private networks. This is particularly important for those who manage plant dispatch operations who need reliable and secure connections with generating facilities and ISO New England.
Of course, the impacts of this crisis don’t stop at the facility gates and these plants are critical economic pillars in host communities. Many generating companies are making contributions to support the communities they serve that are being impacted by COVID-19.
Power plant employees are just some of the critical behind the scenes workers who make sure that front-line healthcare workers can focus on the heroic work of treating the sickest among us.
But they will continue to do their part while many of us work from home, engage in distance learning, or just stream the latest Netflix show.
This extraordinary crisis is shining a light on so many who help support our society and economy. Let us take this opportunity to thank those essential services, including saluting the men and women who
keep the electricity generating to power our lives.
Dan Dolan, Boston, Massachusetts
Dan Dolan is president of the New England Power Generators Association