Sufficient power supplies to meet peak demand expected this summer, ISO New England says
ISO New England Inc. said recently that it expects to have adequate resources to meet peak consumer demand for electricity this summer under normal weather conditions.
If forecasted peak system conditions associated with extremely hot and humid weather occur, ISO New England said, tight supply margins could develop. If this occurs, the organization said, it will “take steps to manage New England’s electricity supply and demand and maintain power system reliability.”
Under normal temperatures of approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit (°F), electricity demand is forecasted to peak at 25,729 megawatts (MW) this summer. In an extreme weather situation, such as an extended heat wave of approximately 94°F, demand could rise to 28,120 MW.
ISO New England expects more than 32,000 MW of capacity to be available to meet New England consumer demand for electricity.
1,630 MW of new generating capacity is expected to be available this summer, including two new natural-gas-fired power plants and one new dual-fuel plant, which have a combined capacity of approximately 1,490 MW of capacity. Five new grid-scale solar facilities are expected to add approximately 90 MW of nameplate capability of about, and two new wind farms will add approximately 50 MW of nameplate capability.
Last summer, electricity demand peaked on June 13, 2017, at 23,968 MW. The all-time record for peak demand of 28,130 MW was set on August 2, 2006, after a prolonged heat wave.
