By Suzanne Herel
PJM is prepared to meet this winter’s load — even if it’s a bit higher than the record peak seen last season, COO Mike Kormos told FERC last week.
PJM’s winter preparedness study considered a peak load of 135,350 MW (not including demand response), below the record winter peak of 143,086 set Feb. 20.
“We did not identify any reliability problems,” he said. “Our margins are fairly sufficient as well. We do not see anything at this point that is problematic to us.”
PJM officials are feeling more comfortable, in part, because of the improved generator performance last winter.
Generator outage rates, which exceeded 20% during the 2014 polar vortex, were generally less than 15% last winter. Officials plan to repeat the winter preparation checklist and a testing program for seldom-run units that were credited with improving performance. (See Why Did PJM Grid Fare Better This Winter?)
Kormos noted that about 10,000 MW of generation has retired since last winter, only about 3,000 MW of which has been replaced. Although the RTO feels confident it can make up the losses, in part due to new transmission, “it is a 7,000-MW difference,” Kormos said.
In addition to making enhancements to the grid, PJM has been working on its relations with the gas industry. “We have spent a lot of effort since last winter continuing coordination,” Kormos said.
PJM this summer signed an information-sharing agreement with nine interstate pipelines. (See PJM, Pipelines Pledge Increased Cooperation to Boost Reliability.)
Beginning Nov. 1 until March, PJM will be holding weekly calls with the pipelines to talk about upcoming maintenance on either side, projected peak loads and forecasting conditions, he said.
Kormos said he was encouraged by one pipeline’s recent announcement that it is considering offering firm service customized for generators’ needs.
“Generators are not [local distribution companies]. They don’t draw gas every hour, seven days a week, 365 days [a year] like an LDC does. They don’t have storage contracts in place like LDCs do,” Kormos said. “They need a different service.
“We feel we are in a much better situation after the past two winters,” he continued. “We believe we’re doing a better job coordinating.”