New York Grid Operator Prepared to Meet Winter Electricity Needs

The New York Independent System Operator Inc. has adequate supplies to meet the projected demand for electricity and maintain necessary operating reserves during the 2019-20 winter, according to a Nov. 21 news release. The power system is expected to have a total resource capacity of 43,346 megawatts including generation, imports, and demand response this winter. The grid operator forecasts a capacity margin of 9,299 to 10,900 megawatts.

The grid manager anticipates a peak demand of 24,123 megawatts, which is slightly lower than last winter, based on average winter weather conditions, with composite temperatures of 15⁰ F, and up to 25,724 megawatts for extreme temperatures of 5⁰ F statewide. Last winter, peak demand reached 24,728 megawatts on January 21. 

New York’s all-time winter peak was set in 2014, when demand reached 25,738 megawatts, prompting changes to market designs and incentives for generators to secure fuel and improve preparations to meet peak demand. The changes, coupled with measures to improve situational awareness of natural gas system conditions and monitoring fuel inventories, helped the grid operator to reliably meet demand during cold snaps in the past two winters.