ISO New England, operator of the region’s electric grid, expects sufficient energy supplies this summer, when the region typically sees its highest demand for electricity.
Very hot and humid weather could present challenging operating conditions, particularly if combined with an unexpected loss of generation or other factors.
Should these conditions materialize — as they did last summer, when demand reached the highest level in the region in more than a decade — ISO New England grid operators have several tools available to maintain reliability on the system.
Peak demand forecast, typical weather
Peak demand forecast,
above average weather
Approximate available capacity expected
All-time highest summer
peak demand
(set on August 2, 2006)
“We plan and train to the extreme, so that when the normal things happen, we can deal with those much easier.”
Watch the video to learn more about how the ISO prepares for the summer season.
Weather is the largest driver of energy use, and New Englanders use the most energy during the hot summer months when homes and businesses turn on their air conditioners. Ahead of each summer, ISO New England compares anticipated contributions from the region’s fleet of resources against projected consumer demand for electricity across a variety of weather scenarios.
In recent years, the ISO has enhanced its modeling capabilities to better account for the changing power system, with both consumer demand and generating resources becoming more weather dependent. The results of these analyses indicate the region is well positioned entering the summer months.
Behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic installations (BTM PV) are a growing source of energy in the region and predicted to reduce demand by more than 1,700 MW during the peak hour of demand on days with normal weather conditions.
Instead of peaking in the mid-afternoon, as was common during summers before widespread solar panel installations, New England grid demand now peaks in the early evening hours. The region has more than 8,000 MW of BTM PV which effectively pushes the peak hour of grid demand later in the day, when the sun is lower in the sky and production from solar PV systems is reduced.
| 1 | Implement Power Caution and begin to allow depletion of 30-minute reserves |
| 2 | Declare Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1 |
| 3 | Request voluntary load curtailment of market participants’ facilities |
| 4 | Implement Power Watch, a notification that additional OP 4 Actions may be taken; if conditions warrant, issue a public appeal for voluntary conservation |
| 5 | Schedule Emergency Energy Transactions and arrange to purchase energy and capacity from other control areas |
| 6 | Implement voltage reductions of 5% of normal operating voltage requiring more than 10 minutes Declare Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2 |
| 7 | Request resources without a capacity supply obligation to provide energy for reliability purposes |
| 8 | Implement a voltage reduction of 5% of normal operating voltage requiring 10 minutes or less |
| 9 | Request activation of transmission customer generation not contractually available to market participants during a capacity deficiency, and request voluntary load curtailment by large industrial and commercial customers |
| 10 | Implement Power Warning and issue urgent public appeal for voluntary conservation |
| 11 | Request state governors’ support for ISO appeals for conservation |
