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Article published Aug 2, 2006 Vermont energy demands near record
By Bruce Edwards Rutland Herald
With another heat wave blanketing the region, a coalition of Vermont utilities is appealing to customers to cut back on electric use.
E-23, a consortium of 23 utilities, issued a statement Tuesday forecasting that energy demand would approach or surpass record levels throughout the Northeast.
According to ISO-New England, the regional transmission operator, a peak load of 27,180 megawatts was forecast for Tuesday afternoon, with a record-breaking peak of 28,030 megawatts expected Wednesday. One megawatt serves roughly 1,000 homes.
Preliminary data shows that New England's record for peak demand is 27,395 megawatts, which was set on July 18.
Stephen Costello, a spokesman for Central Vermont Public Service Corp., the state's largest electric company, said that ISO-New England expects to have an adequate supply of electricity to meet demand. At the same time, Costello said the voluntary conservation appeal would help reduce stress on the system.
"This is a precautionary and voluntary request, essentially just to give us more of a buffer zone given how hot it is," Costello said.
He said CVPS hit a record peak summer load of 490 megawatts late Tuesday afternoon, breaking the previous record of 488 megawatts that was set July 17. By Wednesday, he said the all-time peak load of 491.5 megawatts that was set last December would likely be broken as well.
"Everything is coming together: heat, humidity, relatively low wind at this point," he said.
Costello said the situation would have been worse if customers had not heeded calls for conserving their electric usage.
If CV's all-time peak load is broken Wednesday, it will be the first time that's occurred in summer, Costello said. In recent years, he said, summer electric usage has been catching up with winter demand.
Costello cited two reasons for that: more air conditioners and the construction of larger homes in the 6,000- to 9,000-square-foot range.
He said during every major heat wave, people have a tendency to run out and buy air conditioners, which add to the strain on the region's power system. He said fans are more efficient and use far less energy.
Green Mountain Power Corp. also expects to surpass its peak load record on Wednesday. GMP, the state's second-largest electric utility, set a record of 354 megawatts last summer. On Tuesday, the company's peak load was in the 330-megawatt range.
"The last few years sometimes we're summer peak, sometimes we're winter peak, depending on the intensity of the weather," said GMP spokesman Dottie Schnure.
Like CVPS, Green Mountain Power for years experienced its peak loads during winter. But Schnure said that began to change as electric heat was phased out while air conditioning use increased. She also said that compared to 10 years ago homes have more electronic gear such as computers and printers and other gadgets.
The call for energy conservation applies to businesses as well, including CVPS and GMP.
At its Grove Street headquarters, Costello said some employees are working in offices with the lights off. Air conditioning also has been turned down as well, he said.
While CV and the other utilities are urging conservation, Costello said customers should not take the call to conserve too far.
"We don't want anyone to do anything to put their health at risk," he said.
He said CVPS also suspended disconnections for the duration of the heat wave. In the joint statement, Vermont utilities asked customers to take the following steps to reduce energy use.
Turn off unnecessary lights and electronic equipment, turn air conditioners to the warmest temperature that is comfortable, and close blinds to keep the sun out.
Unplug equipment that draws power even when not turned on, including stereos, DVD players, CD players, computers and printers.
Turn off pool pumps and delay high-energy activities such as washing and drying clothes or running the dishwasher until after 9 p.m.
Contact Bruce Edwards at bruce.edwards@rutlandherald.com.