PJM prepares for higher summer electricity demand
PJM Interconnection, an electricity transmission company, is primed to meet the high demand that is expected this summer in its service region.
Officials at PJM, based in Valley Forge, Pa., expect electricity use to peak at around 151,000 MW this summer as above-average temperatures are expected in the states the4 company serves, including 13 states throughout the Mid-Atlantic, South, and Midwest. Last summer, peak demand was 150,830 MW on Aug. 28. PJM’s all-time highest power use was 165,563 MW in the summer of 2006.
“The summer is when we see our highest electricity use, and we plan and prepare for summer operations throughout the year,” Andy Ott, PJM president and CEO, said. “With proper forecasting, experienced operators and healthy reserves, we are confident we will meet the level of demand.”
PJM meets electricity demands by procuring the necessary resources to satisfy peak demand plus the required reserves. The required resources are acquired through PJM’s competitive markets, which saves customers money. PJM works with its members to make sure that power flows where it is needed. PJM’s expert dispatchers use technology to balance supply and demand and direct the power grid from PJM’s control rooms. They adjust resource output with changes in demand to make sure no transmission lines are overloaded. They also watch for unusual conditions and react to them to protect the electricity supply.
