New All-Time Power Demand Tuesday – NatGas Came Thru Like a Champ

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 cold Christmas snap of December 2022. If not for certain gas-fired peaker plants, like that in the Little Town of Bethlehem, the lights would have gone out during that 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 2022 cold snap due to equipment failures and lack of supply, including natural gas frozen off at well pads. We're just coming through another winter storm and cold snap, one that created the most demand EVER for natural gas in this country (more than during 2022) and peak demand for electricity. And yes, we had well freeze-offs. But this time, the natgas industry came through like a champ. No emergencies and no almost blackouts.

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