PJM Has Enough Power To Meet Hot Summer Electricity Demand

Keeping the grid resilient to face weather extremes

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May 14, 2013, 12:51 ET

VALLEY FORGE, Pa., May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- PJM Interconnection, operator of the nation's largest electric grid, expects to have sufficient power this summer when air conditioners push power use to as high as 155,553 megawatts. This compares to PJM's all-time peak demand of 163,848 MW. PJM serves 60 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia. One megawatt is enough to power 1,000 households.

To meet demand, PJM has available 186,884 MW of installed electricity generation capacity and 11,175 MW of demand response and energy efficiency. Demand response means there are customers who are paid to reduce their energy use at peak time periods on request and energy efficiency pays customers who modify their buildings to save electricity. This amount of demand response and energy efficiency is about the same as the total amount of nuclear capacity in the state of Pennsylvania.

This year's summer forecast for power use includes East Kentucky Power Cooperative, which will be fully integrated into PJM on June 1, 2013. Together with EKPC, the anticipated demand growth from 2012 to 2013 is 0.9 percent, slightly lower than normal due to the continuing effects of the slow economy.

"After experiencing back to back summers of super storms and extreme weather, we've been focusing on the bigger picture of keeping the grid resilient---having the ability to recover quickly, no matter the challenge," said Michael J. Kormos, senior vice president of Operations. "Resiliency means considering more than an adequate generation supply."

In addition to the seasonal emergency operations drills with member companies, PJM has been meeting with member companies and hosting forums to look at resiliency and to share lessons learned from responding to Super Storm Sandy and other extreme weather events.

PJM Interconnection, founded in 1927, ensures the reliability of the high-voltage electric power system serving 60 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 59,750 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.