NORWICH – Officials monitoring the state’s energy supply say high temperatures will result in a record demand of electricity today, breaking the high mark set Tuesday.
The New York Independent System Operator, a non-profit organization charged with administering New York’s electricity grid since 1999, said customers relied on 33,500 megawatts during the peak hour yesterday, the highest figure in state history. NYISO spokesperson Ken Klapp said they expect peak consumer usage to top-out at 34,000 megawatts today.
New York Regional Interconnect Inc., the Albany-based company proposing to build a controversial high voltage electricity transmission line from Marcy to Rock Tavern, was recently turned back during state approval proceedings for not providing the effect its project would have on days with peak demand.
“The abbreviated study provided by the applicant only provides information about facilities that adjoin the Edic and Rock Tavern substations,” states a letter from Jaclyn A. Brilling, Secretary of the New York state Public Service Commission. “The missing study must show the impact of the proposed facility on all of the transmission interfaces, expected flows on transmission lines during peak load, and emergency conditions, and the effects on stability of the interconnected transmission system.”
Since NYRI’s project announcement in late March, heavy opposition to power line has arisen along the 200-mile corridor. Citizens, businesses, and government officials have questioned the project’s intentions and necessity, specifically voicing concern about the impact the line would have on health, local economies, scenic views and environments.
NYRI has previously testified that its project would take “surplus” electricity from upstate to relieve energy constraints downstate, admitting the power line would raise energy rates above Orange County $166 million annually. Host communities along the power line would not be able to tap into the energy, and NYRI officials have contended that the benefits to these communities would be “intangible.”
Officials from NYRI did not return phone messages as of this morning.
At a senate hearing last month in New Hartford, Rome’s Revere Copper Products CEO Brian O’Shaugnessy contested NYRI’s claim that upstate has an electricity surplus, testifying that his company has been asked on several occasions by the NYISO, as part of a voluntary demand response program, to stop production on peak days to secure energy reliability for the rest of the population.
In a phone interview with The Evening Sun, Klapp said that manufacturers and high energy use companies in New York City and Long Island have been asked to voluntarily reduce their consumption during the recent record forecasts. “ Upstate it was not an issue,” Klapp said, referring to voluntary cutbacks yesterday. “There will be a state-wide reassessment at 11 a.m. (today).”
O’Shaugnessy said that Monday he received a call from the NYSIO placing his company on “stand-by” for reduction on Tuesday, but eventually was not asked to shut down. “It was a close call,” he said in a interview this morning. O’Shaugnessy has said that if the touch-and- go supply upstate during peak demand were to be reduced, his business would suffer greatly due to raised rates and decreases in production.
Officials from the Raymond Corporation, one of the largest manufacturers in Chenango County, located in Greene, said that as of yesterday the company had not seen any change in their production due to the high temperatures and high demand. “We have had no problems with the utilities at this time due to the high temperatures,” said Raymond marketing manager Kevin Trenga. “ These really aren’t the highest temperatures we’ve seen here.” Trenga could not comment on whether or not Raymond was enrolled in a voluntary response program.
Politicians on all levels have come out in opposition of NYRI, and state senators are currently urging Governor George Pataki to sign a bill, which he has not yet received, that would remove NYRI’s ability to use eminent domain.
“NYRI’s misguided scheme would ruin our landscape and hurt our property values,” said Senator Tom Libous (R- Binghamton). “And the company’s intentions to abuse the power of eminent domain is reprehensible. That’s why it’s so important that this bill becomes law.”
NYRI’s proposal comes on the heels of Federal legislation from 2005 that calls for private investment in transmission projects. A U.S. Department of Energy congestion study due out August 8 will be the start to determining National Interest Electricity Transmission Corridors, which could push NYRI’s project through if it is not approved at the state level.