Summer Electric Reliability Expected to be Adequate
Electricity capacity margins are expected to be adequate to ensure reliable electric service throughout North America this summer, under normal summer weather conditions, according to the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
Electricity capacity margins are expected to be adequate to ensure reliable electric service throughout North America this summer, under normal summer weather conditions, according to the
North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).
However, widespread and sustained hot and humid weather could threaten reliability, according to an upcoming report by NERC called the 2007 Summer Assessment.
In summer 2006, when extreme weather was experienced across much of North America, some utilities issued emergency alerts and public appeals, implemented voltage reductions, and exercised contracts with customers that allowed them to interrupt electricity supply in return for lower rates. All these actions helped keep supply and demand in balance and maintained the reliability of the bulk power system.
Areas of the greatest concern, which NERC has put on its Summer Watch List, are:
- Southern California, which relies on significant amounts of imported power, transported across transmission lines that are heavily loaded during normal operation.
- The Greater Connecticut region, which relies heavily on imported power; although the addition of 200 megawatts of demand-reduction measures since last summer will help the situation.
- British Columbia, which faces the risk of severe flooding that could damage transmission equipment or require taking equipment out of service.
Areas with improved conditions since last summer include:
- The Southeast, where utilities invested more than $1.21 billion in transmission in 2006.
- Boston, where the ability to import electricity has been boosted by 1,000 megawatts due to two new 345 kV transmission lines running from Stoughton, Mass., into Boston, which became operational in October 2006 and May 2007 respectively.
- Southwestern Connecticut, which can import 230 more megawatts of electricity since a 345 kV transmission line from Bethel to Norwalk was put into service in October 2006.
- Texas, which has reduced its transmission congestion, allowing it to reduce the number of less-efficient generating units that must run in tight reliability situations from seven to one.
Extreme weather can impact the electricity grid in numerous ways. Higher demand for electricity, mainly from air-conditioning, stresses the electricity supply and delivery system. Generating units cannot be cooled as easily so their output has to be reduced to maintain appropriate operating temperatures. The amount of electricity flowing over transmission lines must be limited during extreme heat to prevent excessive line sagging and damage. Levels in U.S. hydro reservoirs, already lower than normal, could drop even more.
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