Several Regulated Utilities, Outside Of RTO, Implement Rotating Outages Due To Inadequate Electricity Supply

December 26, 2022

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Copyright 2010-21 EnergyChoiceMatters.com
Reporting by Paul Ring • ring@energychoicematters.com

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Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC) and Duke Energy Progress (DEP) announced, in a Dec. 24 news release, that, "the company is implementing load shedding steps that include interruptions in service," due to, "extreme cold temperatures and subsequent demand for power," and there not being enough electricity supply available to meet such demand

During the rotating outages, Duke Carolina interrupted service to about 500,000 customers

The Duke Carolina rotating outages lasted for several hours on Dec. 24. Duke formally announced the outages at 7:58 a.m. local time on Dec. 24. Reports from local media indicate that the rotating outages concluded at 11:30 a.m. local time on Dec. 24, but such action did not include immediate restoration of all customers who were shed due to lack of supply (putting aside distribution/weather outages). Duke announced the conclusion of rotating outages in a statement made at 3:42 p.m. local time on Dec. 24

Duke had said that load sheds would rotate in 15-30 minute blocks, but had also noted that the timing may vary. Reports from customers on social media indicated cases of rotating outages, apparently from load shed and not distribution/weather problems, lasting longer, including supply outages lasting for multiple hours

Also notable is one local media report which stated, attributing the statement to a Duke spokesperson, that Duke Energy was unable to purchase power supplies from neighboring utilities, due to similar high demand at such neighboring systems (despite Duke being part of the "national grid" [eastern interconnect] -- joining such an interconnect has been proffered by some in Texas as some sort of cure-all for inadequate supplies due to claims of being able to import power in such emergencies)

Santee Cooper in South Carolina also implemented rotating outages on Dec. 24

Separately, TVA, and various local utilities within its system, instituted rotating outages for several hours on Dec. 23 and Dec. 24

Elsewhere, PJM, despite its capacity market, asked consumers to reduce their use of electricity, if health permitted, between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022 and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022, but PJM did not require the implementation of rotating outages. PJM had stated, "Conserving electricity as much as possible between the hours of 4 a.m. on December 24, 2022, and 10 a.m. on December 25, 2022, will help ensure adequate power supplies."

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