BETHLEHEM, Pa. —The recent cold snap that sent temperatures near historic lows also brought record winter demand for electricity across numerous regional grids and service territories, including the Lehigh Valley.
During a week that saw an average temperature of just 10 degrees over a four-day stretch (Jan 19-23), Wednesday morning saw electric demand surge, though no power interruptions or widespread issues were reported.
The eight-below-zero temperature Wednesday morning, with a wind chill of -22 in the Lehigh Valley area, was the coldest it had been since Feb. 24, 2015, according to the National Weather Service.
Arctic air arrived after 5.7 inches of snowfall on Sunday, further enhancing the chill. Monday was 16 degrees below average, and Tuesday’s temperatures plunged even lower, with a departure from average of 22 degrees.
Wednesday saw a 24-degree slide from average, which sent demand soaring.
Preliminary record for winter demand
PJM Interconnection is the regional grid operator for all or parts of 13 states including Pennsylvania, with Met-Ed’s service area included in the PJM footprint.
“PJM did reach a preliminary record for winter demand at around 8:15 a.m. on Wednesday with instantaneous peak load coming in at approximately 145,000 megawatts, while exporting nearly 8,000 megawatts to our neighbors,” a company spokesman said Friday.
"FirstEnergy's electric distribution system across the state — including the Met-Ed footprint— has stood up and operated well so far through several days of frigid arctic chill."Spokesman Todd Meyers
The number exceeded PJM’s all-time winter instantaneous peak of about 147,000 megawatts, set in Feb. 2015, pending the availability of verified metered load data.
PJM said it worked closely with member companies to help resolve any cold-weather issues before the deep freeze set in, and preparation was key to help prepare the system and maintain reliability.
"It's no accident that FirstEnergy's electric distribution system across the state — including the Met-Ed footprint— has stood up and operated well so far through several days of frigid arctic chill," spokesman Todd Meyers said.
"We completed rigorous inspections of overhead lines and substations in the fall to identify components that needed to be repaired or replaced in advance of the winter season when our customers depend on electricity to keep safe and warm."
UGI Utilities Inc. also reported record demand for natural gas from its core market customers each day during a three-day period, a spokesman said.
John Mason, principal communications leader, said UGI’s core market consists of residential and small commercial customers.
From Monday through Wednesday, UGI delivered a total of 2.946 billion cubic feet of natural gas to these customers, Mason said, with each day breaking a record for core customer demand set in Jan. 2018.
Monday 1/20/25 – 0.938 billion cubic feet
Tuesday 1/21/25 – 1.03 billion cubic feet
Wednesday 1/22/25 – 0.978 billion cubic feet
The previous record was Jan. 5, 2018 at 0.894 billion cubic feet.
PPL notes increased load, offers tips
PPL Electric Regional Affairs Director Jane George also said Friday that, "We did see increased load on our system this week, as colder temperatures cause significantly higher demand."
On Wednesday morning, George said, the utility almost tied its record for peak load, which was set during a similar cold snap in 2015.
"Thanks to investments in our grid and the work we do year-round to maintain and upgrade our system, we were able to provide safe and reliable power for our 1.5 million customers with minimal impacts," George said.
PPL also offered tips and options for customers to help conserve energy and manage their bills through the rest of winter:
Energy-saving:
- Heat loss is even greater during periods of extreme cold. Be sure to cover drafty windows. Roll up a towel or blanket for the bottom of draft exterior doors. If possible, add caulking or weather stripping to seal air leaks around doors and windows
- Make sure that rugs, drapes and furniture are not blocking airflow to and from heating registers, radiators or baseboard heaters. Rooms will have better circulation, and it will allow your system to work as intended, using less energy
- Bundle up with extra blankets or clothes. You can save up to 1% in heating costs for every degree you dial back your thermostat, according to the Department of Energy
- Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Having the damper open is like having a window wide open as it allows warm air to escape through the chimney
- Allowing the sun to shine in through your windows during the day can keep your home warmer, which means using less energy. When the sun goes down, be sure to close the drapes to reduce heat loss through windows
Bill Help:
- OnTrack: offers fixed monthly payments and referrals to energy-saving programs. If customers have a past-due balance, OnTrack also offers debt forgiveness
- WRAP: helps reduce monthly electricity use, leading to lower bills for eligible customers
- Operation HELP: provides cash grants to customers struggling to pay their electric bills
- Payment arrangements: help customers pay down an overdue balance over time
- Budget billing: averages a customer’s electric use over the entire year and then smooths out bills so they’re more predictable
- Bill due date flexibility: for customers up to date with bills, they can pick the monthly due date to better fit with their income schedule.
In addition, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is open and accepting applications through April 2025, George said.
Both homeowners and renters are eligible, and they don’t need to have a past-due balance to apply. LIHEAP offers up to $2,000 in grants to help eligible customers.
They can learn more and find out if they’re eligible at pplelectric.com/liheap.
