The PJM Interconnection and the Midcontinent ISO recently offered details on summer power demand outlooks in their respective regions.
PJM on May 7 said it is forecasting sufficient generation for typical peak demand this summer and is prepared to call on contracted demand response resources to reduce electricity use during times of high system stress.
The National Weather Service forecasts hotter-than-normal conditions this summer in the PJM region’s mid-Atlantic and southern states, as well as West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Typical temperatures are forecast for most of the Midwest.
PJM expects energy demand, or load, to peak at approximately 156,400 MW this summer.
PJM has approximately 180,200 MW of generation capacity to serve demand, as well as approximately 7,800 MW of contracted demand response. Demand response programs pay customers who have opted in to reduce their electricity use in times of system emergencies.
PJM said it should have adequate reserves to maintain reliability under expected conditions and will call on demand response and implement emergency procedures as necessary under less likely, more stressed conditions, including extreme heat or poor generation performance resulting from equipment outages, low solar/wind production, or other more extreme weather effects.
PJM called on Non-Emergency Demand Response six times last summer. During an early season heat wave last year, PJM’s summer peak reached peaks of approximately 161,300 MW on June 23 and 160,900 MW on June 24.
Those were the third- and fifth-highest summer peaks in PJM’s history. Demand response helped to control peak electricity use on those days to maintain reliability. PJM’s all-time record summer peak load was recorded in 2006 at 165,563 MW.
PJM’s planning for this summer includes unlikely but plausible scenarios of up to 169,100 MW of demand. PJM will have fewer resources to export electricity to neighboring systems during emergencies as a result of tightening reserve margins. PJM has traditionally been a net exporter during extreme weather emergencies, and PJM has also relied upon its neighbors for support on multiple occasions in the past.
“While we expect to operate reliably this summer, the outlook resembles last year’s and reflects a new reality – continued load growth driven by data centers that is outpacing the addition of new generation,” said Michael Bryson, Sr. Vice President – Operations. “This results in tightening operating reserve margins and greater risk.”
A dedicated team of operators uses sophisticated technology to balance supply and demand and direct the power grid 24/7 from PJM’s control rooms. They prepare multiple potential scenarios that could be impacted by weather, emergency conditions or equipment failure. They adjust resource output with changes in demand and ensure that no transmission lines or facilities are overloaded. The team also watches for unusual conditions and reacts to them to protect the electricity supply.
PJM and its stakeholders “have taken a number of proactive measures to bring new resources online and maximize the availability of existing resources in the short and long term,” it said.
Other initiatives underway are in step with a coalition of all 13 PJM state governors, the White House National Energy Dominance Council and the U.S. Department of Energy, as detailed by a series of actions outlined by the PJM Board in January.
MISO
MISO on May 6 said its summer readiness assessment for the upcoming season includes an improved capacity outlook supported by new resources and continued operational enhancements.
This year’s Planning Resource Auction produced approximately 142.6 gigawatts of summer capacity offers—an increase of about 4.8 gigawatts from last year, it said.
New solar additions were the largest contributor, supported by growth in natural gas and battery storage resources. Imports from neighboring systems also rose by roughly 1 gigawatt. Together, these additions position the region well to meet an expected summer peak of approximately 125 gigawatts.
“New resources coming onto the system—especially solar—are strengthening our capacity position for the coming summer,” said JT Smith, MISO’s executive director of system operations. “Still, with tighter reserve margins and growing large load demand, we’re approaching the season thoughtfully and ensuring our operations are well positioned to support reliability.”
MISO has applied several lessons from last summer to this year’s preparations. With nearly double the solar capacity on the system, MISO is refining how it manages shifting net load patterns, steep ramps and evening reliability risks. Updated reserve requirements offer greater protection against uncertainty, and enhanced machine learning tools provide operators with earlier insight into potential reliability concerns across all hours of the day.
“MISO continues to work hand-in-hand with our member utilities and state regulators to meet the needs of a rapidly evolving grid,” Smith said. “As we move into another summer season, our focus remains on delivering reliable, cost-effective service to the 45 million people who depend on us every day.”
Seasonal forecasts indicate normal to slightly cooler temperatures in the North/Central region and above normal temperatures in the South.
The Atlantic hurricane season is expected to be near to slightly below normal, and MISO continues to monitor the potential influence of El Niño on both regional temperatures and tropical activity.
MISO noted that it prepares for extreme weather by declaring alerts and advisories—sometimes several days in advance. These actions allow MISO and its members to identify all available generation and known transmission issues prior to an event.
On June 1, MISO will adopt simplified emergency procedures aligned with NERC Energy Emergency Alerts. The update reduces five Max Gen steps to three and removes the Max Gen Alert, creating a clearer and more intuitive structure for managing tight supply conditions.
In a recent episode of APPA’s Public Power Now podcast, John Bear, President and CEO of MISO, detailed how the grid operator is preparing to meet summer power demand this year.
