PECO Sets New Power Demand Record, Eyes Another For Friday
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - PECO customers yesterday broke a five-year-old record for electric demand, even as the agency that manages the power grid across the mid-Atlantic states takes steps to manage that demand.
PECO spokesman Ben Armstrong says the utility broke a demand record that was sent in August of 2006 (see previous story).
"PECO customers on Thursday achieved a new peak record demand of 8,943 megawatts, and on Friday we fully expect our customers will break that record once again," he said.
It won't be known until sometime Saturday, however, if that record is broken for a second straight day.
Armstrong also says that because of the high demand, the PJM Interconnection, which manages the power grid across several eastern states, has asked utilities to implement load management measures, in which large business customers who have signed on to a special program will reduce their usage during peak hours.
Armstrong says this is not a sign that the grid is in danger, and says the PECO system is holding up "very well" in the heat.
Reported by Tony Romeo, KYW Newsradio 1060
