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¿ì»îapp¹Ù꿉۪s 2025 Summer Outlook

New England Grid Prepared for Summer Demand

turbines

¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø, operator of the region’s electric grid, expects sufficient energy supply to meet consumer demand for electricity this summer.

sun

Several consecutive days of hot and humid weather, loss of generation, or other factors could cause periods of tight supply margins.

¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø grid operators undergo rigorous training to ensure the reliability of the grid. They have numerous tools to balance load, including increasing production of online generation, dispatching stand-by units, requesting maintenance be deferred, increasing imports, and voluntary reductions of energy use and other energy conserving measures.

Summer Stats

24,803ÌýMW

Peak demand forecast, typical weather

25,886ÌýMW

Peak demand forecast,
above average weather

29,000ÌýMW

Approximate available capacity expected

28,130ÌýMW

All-time highest summer
peak demand
(set on August 2, 2006)

¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø Minute: Weather’s Impact on Summer Electricity Demand

“Summer really comes down to the weather, it directly drives system demand.”

—Jon Gravelin

Senior Manager, Control Room Operations

Watch the video to learn more about how the ¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø prepares for the summer season.

Summer Demand

Weather is the largest driver of energy use, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting warmer than normal temperatures in New England this summer, and precipitation above normal in most of New England, except for northern Maine.

Since 2005, demand has remained relatively stable mainly due to an increase in energy efficiency technologies and the increased prevalence of behind-the-meter solar generation. ¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø assessments show the region can expect to have adequate supply to meet consumer demand and required reserves this summer.

peak demand vs. temperature

Behind-the-Meter Solar Still on the Rise

Behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic installations (BTM PV) are a growing source of energy in the region and predicted to reduce demand by as much as 1,736 MW during the peak hour of demand on days with normal weather conditions.

Instead of peaking in the mid-afternoon, as was common during summers before widespread solar panel installations, New England grid demand now peaks in the early evening hours. The region has approximately 7,800 MW of BTM PV which effectively pushes the peak hour of grid demand later in the day, when the sun is lower in the sky and production from solar PV systems is reduced.

Sun and solar panels

¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø-NE Public Communications During Operating Procedure No. 4: Action During a Capacity Deficiency (OP 4)

1 Implement Power Caution and begin to allow depletion of 30-minute reserves
2 Declare Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 1
3 Request voluntary load curtailment of market participants’ facilities
4 Implement Power Watch, a notification that additional OP 4 Actions may be taken; if conditions warrant, issue a public appeal for voluntary conservation
5 Schedule Emergency Energy Transactions and arrange to purchase energy and capacity from other control areas
6 Implement voltage reductions of 5% of normal operating voltage requiring more than 10 minutes Declare Energy Emergency Alert (EEA) Level 2
7 Request resources without a capacity supply obligation to provide energy for reliability purposes
8 Implement a voltage reduction of 5% of normal operating voltage requiring 10 minutes or less
9 Request activation of transmission customer generation not contractually available to market participants during a capacity deficiency, and request voluntary load curtailment by large industrial and commercial customers
10 Implement Power Warning and issue urgent public appeal for voluntary conservation
11 Request state governors’ support for ¿ì»îapp¹ÙÍø appeals for conservation

Access a printable reference of the OP 4 actions