Electricity hit peak demand twice

Oct 12 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Luther Turmelle New Haven Register, Conn.

Demand for electricity in New England hit peak levels twice in the past six months, despite a weakened economy and a summer in which the regional electric grid operator never had to issue a public call for conservation.

Officials at ISO-New England said Monday that peak demand hit record levels in May and September, and that the region also set a record for electricity consumption during a single month, in July.

ISO-NE in Massachusetts oversees the operation of the region's electric grid.

"Peak demand in New England is driven largely by air conditioning and July 2010, as the second-hottest month since 1960, tested New England's high-voltage power grid," said Vamsi Chadalavada, senior vice president and chief operating officer of ISO-NE. "The region's power system was able to handle the heat and high levels of consumer demand."

But unlike in previous summers, ISONE officials didn't have a single day they had to make a public plea to consumers to reduce their power consumption, said Ellen Foley, a spokeswoman for the grid operator.

"We are in much better shape as a region than we were a couple of summers ago," Foley said. "We've added new generating sources and the region's transmission resources have been upgraded."

The demand for electricity in New England continues to grow, albeit at a slower pace than in previous years, she said.

"Even though our economic growth is sluggish, our projected annual growth is at .09 percent," Foley said. "During peak periods, we expect demand for electricity to grow at a rate of 1.2 percent per year."

During July, New England's all-time electricity consumption for a single month was recorded at 13,385 gigawatthours. The previous one-month consumption record was set in July 2006.

One gigawatt-hour of electricity is the equivalent of 16.7 million 60-watt light bulbs burning for one hour, according to ISO-NE officials.

Energy consumption in June, July and August totaled 36,863 GWh. That left summer 2010 in third place behind summer 2005 (38,150 GWh) and summer 2006 (37,076 GWh).

May's peak demand was reached with 22,817 megawatts May 26, a new record for that month. Preliminary results indicate September's peak demand set a new record for that month: 26,098 megawatts Sept. 2.

One megawatt can serve about 700 to 1,000 average New England homes.