Grid Operators Predict Sufficient Power to meet Summer Demand
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 17, 2008
Contact:
Ally Taylor, 403.539.2726
Calgary, Alberta - The Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) that deliver wholesale electricity to more than two-thirds of the North American population announced their regions will have sufficient generation capacity to meet the expected summer peak power demand.
The ISOs and RTOs, members of the ISO/RTO Council (IRC), perform independent summer evaluations within each individual region on an annual basis to determine the expected demand for power compared to the amount of generation available to meet that demand.
The final evaluations estimate the following peak net demands:
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ISO / RTO
|
Forecast Peak Demand (in MWs)
|
Increase (decrease) from 2007 peak
|
|
Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO)
|
9,515 MW
|
2.1 % increase
|
|
California Independent System Operator Corporation (California ISO)
|
48,900 MW
|
2.1 % increase
|
|
Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
|
64,927 MW
|
4.4% increase
|
|
ISO New England (ISO-NE)
|
28,000 MW *
|
7.1% increase
|
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Independent Electricity System Operator, Ontario (IESO)
|
25,779 MW
|
4.4 % increase
|
|
Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (Midwest ISO)
|
119,428 MW
|
2% decrease
|
|
New York Independent System Operator (NYISO)
|
33,809 MW
|
5.1% increase
|
|
PJM Interconnection (PJM)
|
137,950 MW **
|
1.4 % increase
|
|
Southwest Power Pool (SPP)
|
43,800 MW
|
1.4% increase
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* Forecast assumes normal weather conditions of about 90 degrees Fahrenheit
** Weather normalized
“Our system reviews give us continued confidence that we will have sufficient generation available to meet the demand within our regions,” said Dale McMaster, President and CEO of the Alberta Electric System Operator and this year’s IRC Chairman. “Thanks to the talented professionals who staff our control rooms, balancing the supply and demand of electricity on a minute by minute basis, we’ll continue to operate the electric systems within our respective jurisdictions in a reliable manner.”
The IRC’s mission is to work collaboratively to develop effective processes, tools, and standard methods for improving competitive electricity markets across North America. In fulfilling this mission, the IRC’s goal is to balance reliability considerations with market practices resulting in efficient, robust markets that provide competitive and reliable service to users of electricity. For more information, visit the IRC Web site: www.iso-rto.org.
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