Press Release

HARRISBURG - Electric utilities, power generators and PJM Interconnection today advised the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) that they are expecting normal demands for electricity and have ample power to meet the demand for electricity during the summer months while maintaining enough power for emergencies. The Commission also announced a new educational campaign to provide consumers with ways to conserve energy during summer heat waves.

The PUC’s top priority is ensuring safe and reliable utility service. The Commission’s main focus recently has been the reliability of service for utility customers.

"We are taking steps every day to improve the reliability of service," said PUC Chairman Terrance J. Fitzpatrick. "The Commission approved regulations to tighten standards and reporting requirements for electric utilities. The new standards are geared toward ensuring that electric utility performance, with regard to the number and duration of power outages, does not decline and toward making it easier for regulators to spot areas where service may be slipping."

Participants in today’s Summer Reliability Assessment meeting included: PJM; the Electric Power Generation Association (EPGA); FirstEnergy; the Energy Association of PA (EAP); and Duquesne Light Company.

The companies discussed scheduled capacity; projected peak demand and capacity; operating reserve; unavailable capacity; forced outages; assistance from neighboring systems; planned generation additions; demand side response programs; and transmission and distribution reliability.

PJM, based in Pennsylvania, is the electricity grid and the operator for seven states and the District of Columbia. PJM predicts that customers this summer will drive the net peak demand for power to 66,027 megawatts, up 4,528 megawatts from last year’s summer peak of 61,499 megawatts. It expects to have a reserve margin, the extra power on hand to meet unanticipated demand, of 18.6 percent.

According to PJM, the bulk transmission systems for both PJM Mid-Atlantic and PJM West are expected to perform adequately.

EPGA’s regional generation supply will meet summer demand, with 15,000 megawatts of generation capacity in Pennsylvania that have been added in the last five years or are currently under construction. There is an expected 2004 reserve margin of 18.6 percent at the time of the forecasted peak.

FirstEnergy, parent company of PennPower, said the reserve margin in the East Central Area Reliability Coordination Agreement, which covers Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan and part of Western Pennsylvania has a 3,200 MW of available new generation. Duquesne is content that adequate generation resources are available to serve its customers this summer.

"The Commission also is planning a summer heat wave educational campaign for consumers, which will include safety tips for keeping cool during times of extreme heat and humidity," said Chairman Terrance J. Fitzpatrick.

Tips to avoid the summer heat and humidity are:

• Relax in rooms that do not receive direct sunlight;
• Uncover all vents and use ceiling fans whenever possible; and
• During hot and humid months, set your home thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and at 85 degrees (or off) when you are away for extended periods.