The Public Utility Commission Wednesday released the 2018 Summer Readiness Overview reports from the state’s electric distribution companies and the regional transmission organization, PJM Interconnection.

The reports provide the companies’ preparations and plans for various conditions-- such as severe storms and high temperatures-- that may affect electric supply, price and service reliability during the summer months.

The PJM Interconnection reported the current temperature predictions suggest a higher probability of above average temperatures this summer, especially in the eastern portion of the PJM region.

PJM said the 2018 electricity load forecast, however, is lower than in 2017-- 152,108 megawatts vs. 152,999 megawatts-- due to continued slow economic growth and increased penetration of energy efficiency and distributed solar generation.

PJM reported a 28.7 percent reserve margin this year, which is slightly less than the 29.1 percent reserve last year.

Since June 1, 2017, PJM said Pennsylvania has added 1.247 gigawatts of electric generation and lost 33 megawatts to generator deactivations. 

There are 309 megawatts of distributed solar generation in Pennsylvania, 20 megawatts of other solar generation and 1.367 gigawatts of wind generations.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration in May projected 5.2 gigawatts of new natural gas-fired power generation capacity will come online in Pennsylvania during 2018 alone.  (A gigawatt is 1,000 megawatts.)

The Summer Readiness Reports submitted by Pennsylvania utilities are available via the following links:

-- PPL Electric Utilities

-- PECO Energy Company

-- West Penn Power Company

-- Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power)

-- Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed)

-- Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec)

-- Duquesne Light Company

-- Citizens' Electric Company

-- Wellsboro Electric Company

-- UGI Utilities Inc. (UGI Electric Division)

-- Pike County Light & Power

-- PJM Interconnection

“These Summer Readiness Reports provide helpful insights about how the industry is preparing for seasonal issues – like severe storms and peak demands for electricity – and the steps they are taking to help ensure reliable service to Pennsylvania residents,” said Chairman Gladys M. Brown.

The reports focus on the following: reliability enhancement programs; preventive maintenance programs; capacity planning; 2017/18 storm updates and lessons learned; 2018 summer readiness; and storm response.

Falling Trees

“While these reports detail utility preparations, it is also important to note that property owners play a key role in helping to prevent or minimize power outages – especially those caused by falling trees,” said Chairman Brown. “From ensuring that trees outside the utility right-of-way are healthy and well-maintained to planting the ‘right trees in the right places,’ homeowners and businesses can help reduce the number of storm outages and accelerate repairs.”

Trees that are leaning toward power lines or roadways have a greater risk of falling during a severe weather event than healthy, well-maintained trees. 

Road closures caused by trees falling onto highways can also become significant obstacles and safety hazards that delay electric service restoration during storm events.

Local government officials are encouraged to assess and address their region’s tree growth along roadways to help reduce delays in power restoration activities. 

According to the most recent data compiled by the PUC, tree-related outages are the number one cause of service disruptions to Pennsylvania customers, and can have a substantial impact during the summer.

During 2017, outages caused by trees accounted for about one-third (33.4 percent) of all sustained power interruptions across the state and were responsible for 57.5 percent of time customers were left without service.

Overall, tree-related outages impacted more than 5.4 million customers across the Commonwealth last year, totaling nearly 900 million minutes of service interruptions.

The Commission requires all electric distribution companies (EDCs) to have a condition-based plan for vegetation management for their distribution system facilities, as part of their mandated biennial inspection and maintenance plans.

The minimum vegetation inspection and treatment cycle is between four to eight years, depending on conditions and system performance. 

Even with these programs and the millions of dollars spent on vegetation management, tree-related outages have a significant impact – including issues involving trees that are outside utility rights-of-way.

[Note: Each utility has a vegetation management program related to its power lines.  If you have questions, contact them directly. Click Here for links to utility websites.]

For more information, visit the PUC’s Reliability webpage.

(Photo: PPL Utilities Distribution Line Vegetation Management.)

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[Posted: June 21, 2018]

6/25/2018