ISO New England Forecasts Adequate Resources to
Meet Summer Electricity Demand
HOLYOKE, Mass., Apr 29, 2009 -- BUSINESS WIRE
According to the region's power grid operator, New England should have
adequate electricity resources to meet consumer demand this summer, with
current economic conditions expected to keep peak demand for electricity
relatively unchanged from 2008 levels.
"The region is in good shape to meet peak demand for electricity this
summer," said Vamsi Chadalavada, chief operating officer of ISO New England
Inc., operator of the region's bulk power system and wholesale electricity
markets. "Supplies are ample, and our portfolio of demand-side resources has
grown significantly over the last few years. The economic slowdown, together
with improving energy efficiency, is expected to keep peak demand in check."
Peak electricity demand could reach 27,875 megawatts (MW) under normal
weather conditions this summer, while the region currently has resources
totaling 33,700 MW. New England power plants will be able to supply about
31,225 MW of electricity, and more than 1,900 MW of demand-response
resources--load management and on-site generators--can be called on to
reduce consumption if supplies start to get tight. The region's energy
efficiency programs are also helping to reduce demand, with about 500 MW
participating by this summer.
This year's peak demand forecast is 110 MW higher than the 2008
weather-adjusted peak of 27,765 MW, which occurred on June 10. Adjusting
demand levels by factoring out year-to-year weather fluctuations gives a
clearer picture of changes in demand that are not caused by weather. One
megawatt serves about 1,000 homes.
During a heat wave on August 2, 2006, the region's all-time peak demand
record was set at 28,130 MW. That record would have soared even higher
without the approximately 500 MW of demand-response resources that reduced
energy consumption when called on to do so by ISO New England.
If demand spikes and supplies become tight as a result of a prolonged heat
wave with high humidity, or a major transmission line or power plant goes
out of service unexpectedly, system operators can bring the system back into
balance by calling on companies in demand-resource programs to cut their
electricity use, bringing in emergency electricity supplies from neighboring
regions, and asking consumers to conserve.
Created in 1997, ISO New England is the independent, not-for-profit
corporation responsible for reliably operating New England's 32,000-megawatt
bulk electric power generation and transmission system, overseeing and
ensuring the fair administration of the region's $12 billion wholesale
energy markets, and managing comprehensive regional electric power planning.
SOURCE: ISO New England
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