The Public Utility Commission Thursday released the 2017 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 for the summer months.

“For many people, summer is a time for vacations and recreation – but it’s also a season of storms and high demands for electricity, and it’s essential that our utilities are prepared to respond quickly and effectively,” said Chairman Gladys M. Brown. “The Summer Readiness Reports submitted to the PUC detail how the industry is preparing for seasonal issues and the steps they are taking to help ensure reliable service to Pennsylvania residents.”

The reports focus on the following: reliability enhancement programs; preventive maintenance programs; capacity planning; 2016/17 storm updates and lessons learned; 2017 summer readiness; and storm response.

The reports also indicate that utilities have sufficient electric capacity for the expected summer energy demands, and note enhancements such as “smart grid” technologies and outage restoration strategies, which are intended to reduce interruptions and help restore service to the largest number of consumers in the least amount of time.

The reports are available via the links below:

-- 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

-- Citizens' Electric Company

-- Wellsboro Electric Company

-- UGI Utilities Inc. (UGI Electric Division)

-- PJM Interconnection

The PJM Interconnection pointed to a warmer than normal summer forecast by the National Weather Service, but said the electric load forecast is lower than in 2016 due to continued slow economic growth and increased penetration of energy efficiency and distributed solar generation.

PJM is expecting peak loads on especially warm days to be higher this summer than last.

There will be 1,367 megawatts of wind generation, 19.5 megawatts of solar and 265 megawatts of solar powered distributed generation available in Pennsylvania, according to PJM.

Between 2016 and this year, PJM reported a net increase of 1,800 megawatts of generation capacity.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming meetings and events, visit the Public Utility Commission website.

[Posted: June 9, 2017]

6/12/2017