PJM asking consumers to conserve electricity as frigid winter grips Midwest

UPDATE: PJM Senior VP of Operations Mike Bryson warns of the possibility of rotating outages in the Midwestern part of the United States. “We are going to do everything we can to try to prevent that, but we think it’s important consumers are ready in case we have to take that step.”

UPDATE: The demand for heat and electricity has prompted PJM interconnection to ask consumers to conserve electricity. PJM is the electricity grid operator for 65 million people in Ohio and 12 other states and the District of Columbia. The call for conservation was prompted by continuing frigid weather. The request is being made throughout PJM.
 

PJM is asking consumers to reduce their use of electricity, if health permits, between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022 and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022.

Demand for electricity is expected to increase in the PJM region and the regions neighboring PJM because of the extremely cold weather.

Electricity customers can take simple electricity conservation steps such as:
•     Setting thermostats lower than usual, if health permits,
•     Postponing use of major electric appliances such as stoves, dishwashers and clothes dryers until other times, and
•     Turning off non-essential electric lights, equipment and appliances.

Conserving electricity as much as possible between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022, and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022, will help ensure adequate power supplies.

PJM continues to carefully monitor the power supply conditions. It will do everything possible to keep power flowing in the region. If necessary, PJM may take additional steps, such as reducing voltage. PJM is coordinating efforts among generators, power suppliers and local utilities.

PJM is communicating about the situation with state government officials throughout the region. the electrical grid is at an extreme high after Thursday's arctic blast swept across Ohio and the eastern United States, and that's prompted PJM, the operator of the grid in Ohio, to ask all consumers to conserve energy immediately through 10 a.m. December 25.