COURT HOUSE – The region’s grid transmission organization, PJM Interconnection, has declared a level one energy emergency alert due to the heat wave that is scorching the East Coast. PJM oversees the eastern U.S.’s electrical grid comprising 13 states, including New Jersey.
The alert calls on all power plants in the region to operate at full capacity to prevent power disruption to 65 million users.
PJM is also asking customers to reduce their energy use where possible in order to keep the power supply stable.
PJM issued a notice to power plants that failure to follow directives can result in stiff financial penalties. Nonperformance charges were issued to a number of plants that failed to perform during Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022.
PJM served a preliminary peak load of around 148,000 megawatts (MW) July 27. The organization is forecasting a peak July 28 of around 155,000 MW. The regional transmission organization (RTO) has a maximum generation capacity of 183,254 MW. PJM coordinates and monitors over 1,400 electricity generators in the RTO.
PJM has extended the hot weather alert for its mid-Atlantic and southern regions to July 29.
