PJM Interconnection forecasts enough electricity to serve its 65 million customers despite heat
Although it anticipates a fairly hot summer this year, in PJM Interconnection’s new summer outlook, the nation’s largest electric grid operator forecast that an adequate electricity supply should be available to meet the needs of its 65 million customers.
“Planning and preparation are key. PJM and our members continually coordinate and prepare for peak load operations throughout the year,” PJM President and CEO Manu Asthana said.
Last year, peak demand hit approximately 144,000 MW in July. This year, peak demand is expected to break past that, to reach around 149,000 MW this summer. However, PJM reported that reliability studies showed its systems capable of handling loads over 155,000 during this period. Presently, it has more than 185,000 MW of installed generating capacity available for the 13 states and the District of Columbia that it services.
The increase in power usage this year is expected due to the decreased impacts of COVID-19 on day-to-day life, as compared to the last year. Further, weather forecasts predict warmer than normal temperatures this summer.
Still, nothing has yet beat the one-day record power usage set in 2006, when PJM reached 165,563 MW in use.
