It was ironic yesterday that the power grid operator in NewEngland, ISO New England, issued a power watch on the same day itassured the public it would have adequate power supplies thissummer. Remember, it’s only May.

With highs in the low-90s, the extreme, unseasonable heat andhumidity yesterday made it seem like July in the entire Northeastregion. The Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland Interconnection,which operates the grid in the Mid-Atlantic states, said it wasfacing unexpected demand and issued an alert. PJM said it mighthave to “initiate further emergency actions such as a system widevoltage reduction to preserve the integrity of the region’selectric power grid.” Public Service Electric and Gas Company(PSE&G) and PJM appealed to customers to cut back on the amountof electricity they were using to help prevent possible powersupply problems.

Baltimore Gas & Electric (BGE) activated its EnergyManagement Switch Program, which cycles air-conditioning units onand off at 15 minute intervals for customers voluntarily enrolled.It also curtailed energy usage of industrial and large commercialcustomers who were voluntarily participating in the program. BGEsaid it may implement further steps to manage demand, including areduction in the system voltage. The Maryland utility said itstotal customer demand could approach the all-time peak load of6,383 MW, set on July 6, 1999.

ISO New England said the unexpected high temperatures andhumidity coupled with maintenance outages at several power plantscaused a tight supply situation and the need to conserve power.Both PJM and ISO New England warned operators the same events werelikely to recur today.

Meanwhile, ISO New England said in an announcement that althoughit was expecting to set a new record for peak demand this summer itwas projecting sufficient electricity supplies to assure thecontinuity of electric service. “Although ISO New England isforecasting record-setting demand this summer, several new powerplants are expected to be on line in time for the summer peakseason,” said ISO spokesman James B. Sinclair. “The addition ofthis new capacity, along with a favorable outlook for theavailability of the region’s nuclear plants, results in an overallimprovement in the level of electricity supplies as compared to thepast few summers.” The ISO expects demand to peak at 23,250 MW onat least one occasion this summer. The existing record of 22,544 MWwas set on July 6, 1999.

Sinclair also noted, however, that there could be “between 20and 30 days annually” when it must issue alerts and take steps toline up additional supplies and reduce electricity demand. The ISOissues power watches and power warnings. The power watch, issuedyesterday, is the less severe of the two. It is a request to allcustomers to voluntarily reduce electricity usage and is issuedwhen the region’s electricity supplies are expected to be tight. Apower warning is a more urgent appeal and will be issued whenelectricity supplies are, or are expected to be, extremely tightand there is a concern that electric companies may have todisconnect certain customers as a means of reducing demand on thegrid.

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