PJM Interconnection, the grid operator in Delaware, a dozen other states and the District of Columbia, is advising businesses and consumers to conserve electricity. The call for conservation was prompted by temperatures that as of Friday monring were in the single digitgs.The request is being made throughout the grid system.
PJM is asking consumers to reduce their use of electricity, if health permits, between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, and 10 a.m. on December 25. The period passed without problems.
In a release, PJM stated that on “Dec.23 a holiday storm generation outages, frigid temperatures and increased demand, led to a call for conservation efforts across the PJM region was the first since the Polar Vortex of 2014. PJM implemented several emergency procedures, including Max Generation Alerts and pre-emergency and load emergency management in the days leading up to Christmas.”
Suggestions for consumers included:
- Setting thermostats lower than usual, if health permits,
- Postponing use of major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until other times, and
- Turning off non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances.
Conserving electricity as much as possible between 4 a.m. on Dec. 24 and 10 a.m. on December 25 will help ensure adequate power supplies, PJM stated.
PJM continues to carefully monitor the power supply conditions. It will do everything possible to keep power flowing in the region. If necessary, PJM may take additional steps, such as reducing voltage. PJM is coordinating efforts among generators, power suppliers and local utilities.
