PECO predicts a 6% rise in peak demand this summer

By the OGJ Online Staff

HOUSTON, June 22 -- PECO Energy Co., Philadelphia, Pa., forecast peak demand will be up 6% this summer compared to last but won't reach the all-time high set in 1999.

This summer's peak will be an estimated 7,750 Mw. Electricity use in PECO's service area peaked at a record 7,959 Mw July 6, 1999.

PECO said last summer's weather was milder without prolonged stretches of extreme hot weather that tends to push electric consumption from cooling appliances to peaks. Electricity demand to date peaked June 20 at 6,725 Mw, PECO said.

A unit of Exelon Corp., PECO said it has made arrangements with its sister company, Exelon Generation, for firm full energy requirements In addition, PECO said it has allocated about $50 million this year for targeted local circuit upgrades, capacity expansion projects, and system reinforcements.

Capacity expansions are investments to meet increasing demand or relieve circuits that overloaded in past years and involve substation additions, new circuit configurations, or upgraded equipment such as transformers and switchgear.

PECO said it measures its reliability performance by the frequency and duration of power outages and limiting the number of customers who experience repeated interruptions. This year, the company said it also will begin using a new outage management system to track customer outages and dispatch field personnel and enhance restoration estimates for customers.

The PJM Interconnection LLC has issued a forecast predicting a 7% rise in electricity demand this summer, with the possibility of setting a record summer peak. Its all time peak demand was 51,700 Mw set 2 years ago. PJM expects to operate this summer with a power supply reserve margin of 15-17%.

PJM coordinates transmission access and power transactions serving utilities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, northern Virginia, and Washington, DC.