January 24, 2007—Consumers will increase their peak demand for electricity by 16.7 percent over the next 10 years, according to PJM Interconnection, the electric power supply system operator for 13 states and the District of Columbia. The highest growth rate during that time is expected in PJM’s Southern Region, which consists of the electric transmission system owned by Dominion.
PJM annually forecasts for its region the highest use of electricity (called peak demand) for future years and annual growth rates. The information is used to plan additions to the electric power supply system.
During the next 10 years, the highest demand for electricity use is expected to grow by 22,861 megawatts, according to PJM’s January 2007 Load Forecast Report. The average annual growth rate in the PJM region is forecast to be 1.6 percent. Though seemingly small, over a 10-year period its roughly like adding to the system Chicago and all of northern Illinois, says PJM.
The growth rate in PJM’s Southern Region (Dominion’s territory) is forecast to be 1.9 percent annually. Annual growth at that rate will result in approximately 4,000 megawatts of additional demand for electricity in 10 years.
In PJM’s Western Region 10-year growth in electricity use is expected to average 1.5 percent annually. The Western Region includes the service territories of American Electric Power, Allegheny Power, Commonwealth Edison, Dayton Power & Light and Duquesne Light.
For more information, see the PJM Web site.
