Fuel Inventories Recovering from Winter Storm
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — While fuel inventories fell during the cold snap accompanying last month’s winter storm, PJM’s Brian Fitzpatrick told the Operating Committee on Thursday that they are on track to recover.
The impact of the storm dominated the committee’s agenda for the meeting, pushing Fitzpatrick’s presentation to an informational-only item. (See related story, PJM Gas Generator Failures Eyed in Elliott Storm Review.)
Coal inventories remain within PJM’s forecast, albeit at the lower end, after falling below the five-year range for much of 2022. Appalachian coal production rates are down nearly 30% relative to the last two weeks of December, though Fitzpatrick noted that end-of-the-year drop-offs are not uncommon.
Natural gas production has recovered from a freeze-off during the storm, though inventories remain within the five-year range at 2.7% below the average. Pipeline issues contributed to nearly one-third of the natural gas generation in PJM’s fleet being unavailable during the storm. With those units offline, oil inventories took a significant hit: Stocks of distillate fuel oil have been far below the five-year range since 2022, and an uptick toward recovery was halted during the storm.
PJM Seeks to Close DLR Task Force
Stakeholders indicated support for a proposal to sunset the Dynamic Line Ratings Task Force given the conclusion of much of the group’s work.
PJM’s Natalie Tacka Furtaw presented two paths forward for the task force: putting it on hiatus and reconvening when needed, or sunsetting the group and issuing a new problem statement and issue charge should future issues arise.
The task force served an educational role for stakeholders, providing information on current rules from PJM and experience from transmission owners and technology vendors. (See “Dynamic Line Ratings,” PJM MRC/MC Briefs: April 27, 2022.)
No new requests for information had been received by PJM since the task force’s December meeting, leading to this month’s meeting being canceled. Furtaw said Thursday’s presentation is being considered a first read, and she will be returning to the OC next month for endorsement of sunsetting the task force.
