PJM Interconnection Extends Cold Weather Advisory Thru Jan. 21 In Western Region; Conservative Operations Remain In Effect Due To Natural Gas Fuel Restrictions

On January 16, the PJM Interconnection announced it has extended its Cold Weather Advisory for its Western Region through Sunday, January 21 as temperatures are expected to remain frigid in that region.

The PJM Western Region in Pennsylvania includes--

-- Duquesne Light Company

-- FirstEnergy South – former Allegheny Power Systems (West Penn Power, Mon Power, Potomac Edison)

-- FirstEnergy West – former American Transmission Systems, Inc. (Penn Power, Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison)

Click Here for the complete list of companies.

Conservative Operations

PJM also said it will remain in Conservative Operations through January 17 to maintain electric grid reliability as a result of winter weather impacts and pipeline fuel restrictions reported by natural gas pipeline operators.

When Conservative Operations is declared, PJM Dispatch reviews and considers recalling or canceling noncritical planned generation and transmission maintenance outages and may reduce transfers of electricity into, across or through the PJM system.

Although information is preliminary, natural gas supply and transportation sectors have performed as expected, meaning any gas generation outages are within what is expected and planned for in frigid temperatures.

PJM will continue to monitor the progression of the cold weather eastward and determine whether additional Cold Weather Alerts are appropriate.

PJM was able to support neighboring regions through the holiday weekend with approximately 6,000 MW to 10,000 MW of net exported electricity, and those exports continue. 

Click Here for the complete announcement.

The PJM Interconnection is a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, including Pennsylvania.

Related Articles - Grid Reliability:

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-- FERC Approves PJM $1.25 Billion Winter Storm Elliot Settlement With Non-Performing Natural Gas, Other Electricity Generators [PaEN]

-- PJM Makes Multiple Reliability-Focused Improvements To Prepare For Winter To Deal With 70% Natural Gas, Other Generator Nonperformance In 2022 [PaEN]

-- House Hearing: Shapiro Administration Supports Expanding Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards; Renewables Lower Energy Costs; Increase Grid Reliability; More Work Needed To Improve Gas Reliability [PaEN]

NewsClips:

-- Marcellus Drilling News: US Natural Gas Prices Make Huge Jump On Deep Freeze; Some Shale Gas Prices Increase By 400%

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Supplies Drop Due To Frozen Wells, Record Demand Forecast Due To Extreme Cold

-- Reuters: US Natural Gas Demand Eyes Record As Arctic Blast Dents Output

-- Financial Times: The LNG Natural Gas Glut Will Chill The Gas Ambitions Of Oil Majors

-- Bloomberg: EU Sees Natural Gas Storage Levels More Than Half Full By Winter’s End

[Posted: January 16, 2024]  PA Environment Digest