New England Is Facing Blackouts This Winter: Grid Operator

A major New England grid operator stated that it’s preparing for a possible strain on the power grid amid a surge in demand for natural gas that threatens to reduce supplies.

“The most challenging aspect of this winter is what’s happening around the world and the extreme volatility in the markets,” Vamsi Chadalavada, ISO New England’s chief operating officer, told the paper in an interview.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, a spokesperson for the grid operator said its “initial analysis shows that the region should have sufficient fuel supplies under mild and moderate winter conditions, which in New England is quite cold.”

“In the event [of] prolonged cold snaps develop, ISO New England has procedures in place to monitor energy supplies and identify potential problems early enough for the region to take proactive measures, such as expedited fuel deliveries or asking for public conservation,” the spokesperson continued. “Since the region is reliant on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) during the winter months, we can expect to see price volatility when global events impact demand for this fuel.”

And LS Power Development Vice President Nathan Hanson said his firm is filling backup tanks with oil to produce in case the natural gas supply dries up.

“The grid overall is in a much tighter position,” he told the media outlet. “If we get a sustained cold period in New England this winter, we’ll be in a very similar position as California was this summer.”

Thad Hill, CEO of Calpine Corp.—an operator of plants in the Northeastern region—said fuel supplies for the winter will be expensive, but he doesn’t anticipate any power outages or strain on the grid.

“The goal should be to put in place a market mechanism that’s actually durable for all but the most egregious situations,” he told the Journal.

The Energy Information Association’s short-term energy outlook, which was posted last week, shows that wholesale prices at trading hubs will be 20 percent to 60 percent higher on average for the winter of 2022–23.

Biden administration officials are bracing for the prospect that inflation-fatigued Americans will pay higher home-heating bills this winter. Inventories of natural gas, the nation’s primary heating fuel, are at historically low levels after U.S. companies exported record amounts to Europe in recent months to counter a cut in supplies and higher prices for European power plants.

“And because of the steps we and our partners have been taking, gas storage in Europe is at a significantly higher level than last year. More work remains,” one official said.

Representatives for ISO New England didn’t respond to requests for comment by press time.