PJM and Members Set New Record for Peak Power Use

Grid remains reliable during sustained heat wave

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Jul 22, 2011, 10:28 ET

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., July 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection, the grid operator that manages the high voltage transmission system in all or parts of 13 states and Washington, D.C., set a new record for peak power use yesterday at 5 p.m. by meeting the demand for 158,450 megawatts (MW) of power. One megawatt of power is enough to power about 1,000 homes.

The previous record for peak demand was set on August 2, 2006. When adjusted for the June 1, 2011, integration into PJM of FirstEnergy's American Transmission Systems, Inc. and Cleveland Public Power, the all-time peak would have been 158,258 MW.

"PJM and our members plan and prepare year-round to handle days like this to ensure a seamless power supply for the 58 million consumers in our region," said Michael Kormos, senior vice president – Operations. "Our efforts in fine-tuning how we forecast electricity demand and plan transmission improvements are paying big dividends for our system operations."

Yesterday's demand for electricity was met without problems and generation supplies were adequate. Demand response was not called on to reduce load. Temperatures are expected to remain high today with power use forecast to be close to yesterday's.

PJM issues its daily forecast on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/pjminterconnect.

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 58 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 61,000 miles of transmission lines; administers a competitive wholesale electricity market; and plans regional transmission expansion improvements to maintain grid reliability and relieve congestion. Visit PJM at www.pjm.com.