NPCC Summer 2021 Reliability Assessment Media Release

New York, NY – 5/6/21 – Northeast Power Coordinating Council, Inc.’s (NPCC’s) annual reliability assessment forecasts the NPCC Region will have an adequate supply of electricity this summer.

The overall NPCC coincident electricity summer peak demand is forecasted to be around 104,000 megawatts (MW), which is approximately the same as last summer. An installed supply capacity of about 161,200 MW is projected to be in place to meet electricity demand this summer.

Forecasts also indicate sufficient transmission capability and adequate capacity margins to meet peak demand and required operating reserves. NPCC’s spare operable capacity (over and above reserve requirements) this summer is substantial with the projection ranging from 9,800 MW to 25,000 MW.

For New York State, New England and Ontario, an adequate supply of electricity is forecast for this summer. Moreover, the winter peaking Québec and Canadian Maritime Provinces are expected to meet forecasted electricity demand by a wide margin, enabling those areas to transfer surplus electricity supplies to other areas of the region if needed.

“In addition to adequate resources and sufficient transmission capability, the assessment indicates that, if called upon, established operating procedures can provide additional support to help keep the system up and running by maintaining a balance between electricity supply and demand,” said Charles Dickerson, President and CEO of NPCC.

Widespread and prolonged heat waves with high humidity and temperatures remain the primary drivers of summer system demand. The assessment considered a wide range of conditions including forecast demand uncertainty; unexpected generator plant outages; transmission constraints between Regions and within NPCC; implementation of operating procedures; estimated impact of demand response programs; and additional capacity unavailability coupled with reduced transfer capabilities.

“To ensure the Northeastern North American bulk power system remains highly reliable, resilient and secure for this summer and beyond, NPCC will continue performing the critical role of assessing reliability, monitoring and enforcing Regionally-specific reliability criteria, continent-wide and Regional Reliability standards and coordinating system planning, design and operations,” added Dickerson.

As part of that effort, NPCC will continue to manage the international electricity system impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. NPCC’s pandemic response plan will remain in place throughout the duration of the summer which includes conducting Emergency Preparedness Conference Calls with regional and neighboring areas to discuss the latest impacts and coordinate entity response efforts.

‍

###

An overview of the NPCC Summer 2021 Reliability Assessment is available at https://www.npcc.org/news

‍

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Stephen Allen

(617) 640-6522