PA Environment Digest Blog: PJM Issues Alert Requiring All Electric Generators To Operate At Maximum Output For Monday, June 23; No Customer Action Required At This Time

On June 22, the PJM Interconnection issued a Maximum Generation Alert and Load Management Alert for Monday, June 23 as hot weather continues throughout the region PJM serves to ensure the reliable delivery of electricity to its customers across 13 states and the District of Columbia.

PJM issues a Maximum Generation Emergency Alert a day in advance of conditions that may require all generators to operate at their maximum output capability.

This alert does not require any action from customers.

PJM is forecasting a load of approximately 160,000 MW on June 23. PJM’s record summer peak load was 165,563 set in 2006. Last summer’s peak was approximately 152,700 MW.

The alert is targeted at transmission/generation owners, who then determine if any maintenance or testing on any equipment can be deferred or canceled. By deferring maintenance, the units stay online and continue to produce energy that is needed.

The alert is also a procedural step that serves to notify neighboring regions that exports of electricity outside of the PJM footprint may need to be curtailed and they should plan accordingly.

PJM issues this alert at the same time as a Load Management Alert, which gives advance notification that load management action may be declared, including non-Emergency and Emergency Demand Response.

Demand Response programs pay customers in advance who sign up to allow reduction of their electricity use in emergencies.

As of June 22, PJM is expecting to serve a forecasted load across the RTO of approximately--

-- 160,000 MW on June 23

-- 158,000 MW on June 24

-- 155,000 MW on June 25

PJM issues a NERC EEA Level 1, or EEA-1, in conjunction with a Maximum Generation Alert.

NERC defines an EEA-1 as when a grid operator foresees or is experiencing conditions where all available resources are committed to meet electricity load, firm transactions, and reserve commitments, and is concerned about sustaining its required contingency reserves.

Click Here for a copy of the PJM announcement.

June 19 Hot Weather Alert

On June 19, the PJM Interconnection issued a Hot Weather Alert for its entire service area for June 22–25 ahead of an expected extended heat wave. PJM serves a footprint that includes all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia.

The National Weather Service has predicted hotter-than-normal conditions this summer, especially in the Atlantic seaboard states.

A Hot Weather Alert is a routine procedure PJM issues ahead of forecasted 90-plus-degree weather and/or high humidity to prepare transmission and generation personnel and facilities for expected increases in electricity demand, or load.

Temperatures are expected to exceed 90 degrees for an extended period, which drives up the demand for electricity.

Additionally, PJM has issued a generator maintenance outage recall. Under the recall, generators that have been taken out of service for scheduled maintenance have 72 hours to end maintenance outages to increase the amount of generation available to meet customer demand throughout the heat wave.

As of June 19, loads are forecasted to reach approximately 158,000 MW on Monday, June 23, and Tuesday, June 24, which exceeds PJM’s summer forecast peak energy use of 154,000 MW. [Read more here]

Sunday, June 22, is currently forecasted to reach a load in the mid-140 GW range.

PJM’s record summer peak is 165,563 MW, set in 2006.

Last year, PJM’s summer peak was approximately 152,700 MW.

PJM has approximately 179,200 MW of generation capacity this summer, as well as approximately 7,900 MW of contracted demand response.

Demand response programs pay customers in advance to have their electricity use automatically reduced in times of system stress.

A dedicated team of operators uses sophisticated technology to balance supply and demand and direct the power grid 24/7 from PJM’s control rooms.

They prepare multiple potential scenarios that could be impacted by weather, emergency conditions or equipment failure.

They adjust resource output with changes in demand and ensure that no transmission lines or facilities are overloaded. The team also watches for unusual conditions and reacts to them to protect the electricity supply.

Click Here for PJM announcement.

Summer Forecasts

On May 9, the PJM Interconnection announced its forecasts show sufficient generation for typical peak demand this summer but is preparing to call on contracted demand response resources to reduce electricity use under more extreme scenarios featuring record demand.

For the season ahead, PJM forecasts summer energy use, or load, to peak at just over 154,000 MW, for which PJM should have adequate reserves to maintain reliability.

This season also marks the first time in PJM’s annual assessment, however, that available generation capacity may fall short of required reserves in an extreme planning scenario that would result in an all-time PJM peak load of more than 166,000 MW. [Read more here]

Resource Links - Grid:

-- PJM Interconnection Forecasts Adequate Electric Generation For Typical Summer Demands; Preparing Demand Response Resources To Reduce Power Use In Extreme Scenarios [PaEN]

-- PUC Releases Electric Utility, PJM Summer Readiness Reports: Sufficient Generation Capacity, But Extreme Demand May Result In Energy Shortfall [PaEN]

-- PUC Urges Electricity Customers To Start Shopping, Conserve Energy To Help Avoid Impact Of June 1 Rate Increases Of Between 5% and 16% On Most Electric Bills [PaEN]

-- Gov. Shapiro Provides Update On The Fight To Lower Energy Prices, Calls On General Assembly To Move His Commonsense Lightning Energy Plan [PaEN]

-- House Committee Told PA Needs An Energy Policy, Doing Nothing Means We Are Going To Run Out Of Power; Overreliance On One Fuel-- Gas-- Is Raising Electricity Prices [PaEN]

-- PA Elected Officials, Consumer, Clean Energy Advocates Demand Electric Grid Operator PJM Act To Hold Down Electricity Costs [PaEN]

-- Rise Of The Machines: Senate, House Members Express Concern That Demand For Power To Run Computers Is Impacting The Price And Availability Of Electricity For ‘Ordinary People’ [PaEN]

-- PUC Hearing On Data Center Growth Impacts Finds 30-40% Of Utility Demand Could Be From Data Centers; Concerns About Stranded Costs; Major Commitments To Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Energy Use

-- North American Electric Reliability Corp. Files Proposed Cold Weather Standard To Improve Reliability For Natural Gas-fired, Other Electric Generators [PaEN]

-- PUC House Budget Hearing: We Aren’t Going To Build Our Way Out Of Electric Generation Shortfalls On PJM Grid; We Need To Diversify Our Generation Sources [PaEN]

-- PUC Invites Stakeholder Comments On The Issue Of The Adequacy Of Electricity Supplies In Pennsylvania [Background On Issue] [PaEN]