Gas-Fired Power 70% of PJM Electric Outage During Winter Storm

PJM is the largest electric grid operator in the U.S. It serves 65 million people in 13 states plus the District of Columbia (including PA, OH, and WV). PJM came under withering criticism for an almost blackout during the Christmas cold snap last Dec. 23-25. If not for certain gas-fired peaker plants, like that in the Little Town of Bethlehem, the lights would have gone out during a brutal cold snap (see Bethlehem Marcellus-Fired Power Plant Kept PA Lights on During Xmas). Some 24% of the electricity supplied to PJM was not available during the cold snap due to equipment failures and lack of supply, including natural gas frozen off at well pads. PJM issued a report on Monday analyzing what happened, with an eye on how to prevent it from happening again.

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