WHP580 Newsroom

WHP580 Newsroom

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Record Energy Use in Pennsylvania Amidst Cold Snap

Electric meters in a row measuring power use. Electricity consumption concept.

Photo: Getty Images

On Wednesday (January 22), Pennsylvania experienced a record-breaking energy demand due to extreme cold weather. The Pennsylvania-based transmission organization, PJM Interconnection, reported a peak load of approximately 145,000 megawatts at 8:15 a.m., surpassing the previous winter peak of 143,700 megawatts set in February 2015.

PJM anticipated high demand to continue into Thursday morning, with temperatures remaining well below freezing. To prepare for the cold snap, PJM implemented several measures, including a Cold Weather Advisory, a Cold Weather Alert, and a Maximum Generation Alert. These steps helped ensure the availability of generation resources and maintained the stability of the transmission system.

Mike Bryson, Senior Vice President of Operations at PJM, praised the efforts of member companies in addressing cold-weather challenges, stating, "All of those steps served to help PJM and our members get ready for the cold weather. They have performed remarkably thus far, and I am grateful for their efforts."

PJM also exported close to 8,000 megawatts of electricity to neighboring regions during the peak demand period. Despite the record usage, PJM continues to monitor the performance of the generation fleet and transmission systems to ensure reliability.

With the cold weather persisting, PJM and local authorities urge consumers to prepare for ongoing extreme conditions.


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