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PJM Issues Multiple Alerts as Heat Wave Drives Higher Power Demand

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PJM Interconnection issued multiple alerts on Wednesday to address increased power demand amid higher temperatures from this week's heat wave, the regional transmission operator said in a statement.

PJM said that a Maximum Generation Alert and a Load Management Alert are currently in place for Wednesday and Thursday. The earlier-issued Hot Weather Alert remains in effect for its serviceable region until Friday.

PJM said it served a preliminary hourly integrated peak of 151,105 megawatts on Tuesday.

In its Forecasted Peak Load update, the operator said it estimates an FPL of 164,078 MW on Wednesday, 160,227 MW on Thursday, and 150,981 MW on Friday.

"During a recent prolonged heat wave, PJM reached an all-time peak load estimated at 168,158 MW on July 2, according to preliminary figures that factor in Demand Response programs that serve to suppress electricity demand," PJM said.

Its previous peak record was 165,563 MW, set on Aug. 2, 2006.

Additionally, PJM said it had received approval from the US Department of Energy for a combined emergency order, to be effective July 15 through July 21.

The move aims to provide "temporary relief from environmental permit restrictions for generating units and/or to direct backup generation resources to operate, if required at all," PJM said.

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