PECO, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, said it is on schedule to complete critical infrastructure projects in time to meet peak summer electric demand. In recent weeks, the utility has been completing local capacity expansion projects, circuit patrols and upgrades, and thousands of maintenance tasks across its system. PECO forecasts peak demand will grow by 1.5 percent over last year.

In all, PECO has spent $53.6 million on upgrades for 16 substations throughout the Philadelphia region to feed additional circuits and better balance electric distribution to local customers. The largest project, a $37.8 million revival of the once-retired Waverly substation in Center City, was finished this spring. Waverly has nearly 1.5 miles (7,550 feet) of new underground transmission feeders and 12 distribution circuits, all underground in the city.

Electricity usage increases in the summer because of the greater energy required to run air conditioners and other cooling appliances, mostly for residential customers. PECO projects that the peak amount of electricity flowing through its network will increase 1.5 percent this year to 8,770 megawatts (mw). One megawatt is enough electricity to power 800 to 1,000 homes. PECO last year reliably met record usage of 8932 MW, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 2, in the midst of last year's most severe heat wave. The 8770 MW forecast is based on normal summer weather conditions as opposed to the extreme heat experienced during the record-setting day last year.

A majority of a consumer's summer monthly bill can be linked to air conditioning systems and cooling appliances, such as refrigerators, freezers, and fans. Generally, 50 to 75 percent of a residential customer bill can be associated with the HVAC equipment and related appliances.

On May 14, the Valley Forge-based PJM Interconnection reported that power supplies in the region should be sufficient to meet peak usage. The power grid operator said last year's heat wave was a once-in-35-years event. PJM, too, is forecasting peak load lower than last summer's record. PJM said it expects to have an operating reserve of 18 to 21 percent, which is above its 15 percent reserve margin required by regulators. The reserve margin provides a cushion of generating capacity to meet unexpected high usage or equipment problems.

In addition to the Waverly work, some of the larger summer critical projects included:

• Construction of new circuits fed from the Blue Grass substation, serving customers in the Far Northeast section of Philadelphia, and from the Passyunk substation in South Philadelphia. Upgrades at the Roxborough substation also were made to address projected overloads;
• A new bulk power transmission capacitor bank at PECO's Planebrook substation in West Whiteland Township, Chester County, at a cost of $2.2 million to regulate transmission voltage to meet growing electric demand regionally and upgrades performed on distribution circuits fed from the local Nottingham and Daleville substations.
• A new feeder for the Heaton substation to boost power supply for the Willow Grove area, Montgomery County, at a cost of $1.3 million, and upgrades for the company's Perkiomen, Upper Merion, and the Barbadoes substation near Norristown.
• A new feeder and line extension to improve reliability for customers fed from the Wayne substation in Delaware County at a cost of $1.8 million, as well as another $3.2 million investment associated with the circuits fed from the Llanerch and Morton substations; and
• Upgrades for the Warrington substation and a new distribution circuit fed from the Neshaminy substation in Bucks County.

"Reliable electric service is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity, especially during the hottest days of the summer. Our summer readiness program ensures that PECO is as well prepared as possible to provide the quality of service our customers expect when they need it most," said Denis O'Brien, PECO president.

PECO said its summer readiness program ranges from inspection and maintenance of aerial and underground electrical equipment, substations and other facilities to infrastructure improvements, particularly in growing communities, and emergency response drills and other training for employees.

In the future, one component of "summer critical" work will be expanding. PECO plans to spend roughly $170 million over the next four years to increase its transmission capacity to facilitate better reliability and power flowing in our region.