PJM Electricity Usage Tops 100,000 MW; Sets World Record

PJM Interconnection, the electricity grid operator for 51 million people in 13 states and the District of Columbia, announced today that for the first time anywhere in the world a centrally dispatched grid had successfully met a demand for more than 100,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Usage on the PJM grid peaked at approximately 114,800 MW at 4:00 p.m. (EDT) June 6.

"Reaching this milestone emphasizes that large-scale coordinated regional grid operations are practical and effective," said Audrey A. Zibelman, PJM executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Centrally dispatched regional grids provide the economies of scale that underlie the benefits of efficient competitive wholesale electricity markets. Not only is the grid more reliable, but we've also seen a real decrease in prices because of competition."

The PJM system had enough generating capacity and reserves to deliver all the electricity that customers used. Demand on the system tomorrow is expected to be even higher. PJM forecasts that power supplies again will be adequate to handle the expected usage of electricity.

PJM became the world's largest grid operator last year. Since May 2004, the transmission systems of Commonwealth Edison, American Electric Power, Dayton Power and Light Company, Duquesne Light Company and Dominion were integrated into the PJM regional transmission organization. Prior to the integration of the new systems, all-time peak electricity usage in PJM was 63,779 MW. One megawatt is enough electricity to power about 800 homes.