VALLEY FORGE, PA — In preparation for the winter season of 2023-2024, PJM Interconnection, a leading grid operator serving 13 states and the District of Columbia, has implemented robust winter readiness steps. Teaming up with its member utilities, PJM is equipped to serve the projected demand for electricity under typical conditions this winter.
PJM anticipates having more than 181,000 MW of resources available to cater to the forecasted peak demand of nearly 137,000 MW. Additionally, it expects to export an average of just under 4,000 MW of electricity to neighboring systems. The company assures that the system will remain reliable even under more extreme and unlikely scenarios such as lowered gas or renewable generation, elevated electricity demand, or increased exports.
The highest-ever winter peak for PJM was 143,295 MW, recorded on February 20, 2015. This year, the company has gone beyond its annual Cold Weather Preparation Guideline and Checklist, seasonal fuel and emissions surveys, and other operations and planning steps. The proactive measures stem from lessons learned from previous extreme weather events, including Winter Storm Elliott in December 2022.
Post the storm, PJM’s Winter Storm Elliott Event Analysis led to 30 separate recommendations. Consequently, PJM and its stakeholders have made several improvements to rules and processes concerning generator performance and overall cold weather reliability. The enhancements for this winter include improved generator operational and seasonal reporting requirements, adjusted short-term forecasting, and enhanced communication protocols with generation owners during cold weather events.
Moreover, PJM has received approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to allow generators to update their Day-Ahead Market operating parameters in real-time. This step enhances PJM operators’ situational awareness of generators’ capabilities.
In compliance with new requirements introduced by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) this season, generators are reporting specifics of cold weather preparedness and operations to PJM. This includes identifying and implementing corrective actions for equipment that failed during Winter Storm Elliott or could be at risk of failing under similar conditions.
Despite the NERC Winter Reliability Assessment for the 2023–2024 season indicating potential risks of insufficient electricity supplies during extreme peak winter conditions, PJM has adequate resources for normal winter conditions as well as more extreme scenarios. However, the assessment also notes a degree of risk due to increased forecasted peak demand and decreased total generation resources since 2022.
PJM’s winter readiness measures involve an ongoing Cold Weather Preparation Guideline and Checklist for generation owners, which is now mandatory. The checklist covers various aspects such as increasing staffing for weather emergencies to performing required maintenance activities to prepare equipment for winter conditions. These annual assessments are part of PJM’s commitment to ensuring reliable power supply during the challenging winter months.
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