PROVIDENCE – Mild temperatures and proactive planning should ensure there’s enough power to meet regional electricity needs this winter, according to ISO New England Inc.
ISO offered up an outlook on winter energy supply, predicting that controlled outages are unlikely, according to its forecast published Monday. That’s in part thanks to a mild-to-moderate winter weather forecast, which does not eliminate but may reduce the threat of prolonged cold snaps that overburden the electric grid, according to ISO.
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Electricity demand is expected to peak at 20,009 megawatts based on average temperature of 10 degrees Fahrenheit, rising to $20,695 megawatts if temperatures drop to below-average 5 degrees Fahrenheit. These projections mark a 2% rise over last year’s forecasts, but were below the record peak of January 2004, when electricity usage reached 22,818 megawatts, the release stated.
The regional electric grid operator has also planned ahead, using a rolling 21-day forecast to identify and fill potential energy shortfalls ahead of time, the release stated. The forecasting tool also aims to allow for coordination with utility companies and governments if public energy conservation is needed.
The forecast includes availability at regional liquified natural gas storage facilities, as well as oil-, coal- and natural-gas fired generators. Available electricity from all resources is 30,145 megawatts, based only on the forward-capacity market supply, or up to 34,103 megawatts including maximum possible output from generators that might be more than forward capacity market obligations.
Although supply shortages are not expected, the price for electricity will be higher than usual, thanks to record rate-hikes in Rhode Island and nationwide. To that end, the United Way of Rhode Island is offering up money to low-income Rhode Islanders who are struggling to afford their winter heating bills. The 2022-2023 Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund, which opened for applications Monday, offers up to $825 in grants to Rhode Island households with combined income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level. For more information or to apply, call United Way’s 2-1-1 helpline.
Nancy Lavin is a PBN staff writer. You may reach her at Lavin@PBN.com.
