In a report released yesterday, the Mid-America InterconnectedNetwork (MAIN) said it expects a new peak for power demand in themidwestern NERC region this summer but power supplies should be”significantly improved” compared to the past two summers. The MAINstudy forecasts a peak demand of 48,157 MW this summer, compared to46,824 MW in 1998.

“Although peak demand for power is anticipated to be about 2%higher this year than last, we believe reliability levels will besignificantly higher than in 1997 and 1998,” said Richard Bulley,executive director of MAIN. “The improved outlook is because allnuclear plants within MAIN are expected to be in service thissummer, and about 1,300 MW of generation will be added in variouslocations throughout the region.” The study also pointed totransmission system upgrades and improved procedures that willincrease the region’s ability to import power from other regions.

The major system additions and improvements include the LaSalleNuclear Station. Both of LaSalle units (2,080 MW) were unavailablefor much of the summer of 1997. Unit 1 returned to service inAugust 1998 and has been in normal operation since. Unit 2 returnedto service this week. The Clinton Nuclear Station (930 MW) has beenunavailable since September 1996, but is anticipated to beavailable this summer. Illinois Power has reactivated an oil-firedpower plant at Havana, adding 238 MW of capacity. ComEd isinstalling 213 MW of portable, temporary, internal combustiongenerating capacity at seven locations on its system. Newgeneration from independent power producers in the ComEd serviceterritory is expected to contribute an additional 850 MW in 1999,according to the report.

Illinois Power and Soyland Power Cooperative are installingcombustion turbine units that will add about 275 MW of generationto the region. The location of some of the units will improve theability to import power from the East. About 300 MW of capacitywill be available in Wisconsin from new units and increasedcapacity at existing units. In Missouri, about 100 MW of increasedcapacity at the Taum Sauk Plant will be available.

In addition, new autotransformers are being installed in UpperMichigan, Wisconsin and Illinois that will improve the adequacy ofbulk power service to local load areas. And transmission lineupgrades and improvements in northern Wisconsin, Illinois andMissouri will improve the ability to transfer power throughout thesystem, the study said.

MAIN is one of 10 regional reliability councils under the NorthAmerican Electric Reliability Council, dedicated to the operationof the region’s electric transmission system. Member companiesinclude 14 electric utilities that serve parts of Michigan,Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri, along with 40 other organizationsinvolved in regional energy issues. A copy of the reliabilityassessment can be downloaded from MAIN’s world-wide web page,https://www.maininc.org/files/tasg99s.pdf.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.