PJM Interconnection said this afternoon it expects power supplies to be adequate today for the 13-state region it covers.
The extremely cold weather forecast to grip the region tonight is expected to push electricity demand to a new winter record, the region's power grid operator said this afternoon.
PJM Interconnection, based in suburban Philadelphia, said in a series of tweets this afternoon that it expects power supplies to be adequate today for the 13-state region it covers, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania plus the District of Columbia.
"Supplies will be tighter tonight and tomorrow" because of the cold, PJM said via the social media website Twitter.
The region's current winter record of 136,675 megawatts was set in 2007. That's still less than the power usage last summer in the face of sweltering heat: Usage on July 18 totaled 158,156 megawatts; the region's available capacity July 18 was 167,505 megawatts.
The National Weather Service issued a wind chill advisory for the Lehigh Valley and northwestern New Jersey, in effect from midnight tonight until 6 a.m. Wednesday. The forecast high Tuesday is 8 degrees, with lows of 3 tonight and Tuesday night. The wind chill will make it feel as low as 15 to 20 degrees below zero, according to the weather service.
Calling the cold and wind "dangerous," the weather service says prolonged exposure may lead to hypothermia and frostbite.
Hackettstown police said today the town's municipal building, 215 Stiger St., will be used as a warming center 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday for any town resident who may lose power or doesn't have heat. The municipal building will also serve as a charging station for cellphones, computers and other devices for town residents. The hours and dates would be extended if needed, police said.
The American Red Cross said today it was opening shelters and warming centers for people affected by the extreme cold, and it is working with local emergency officials to respond if needed as the cold weather moves to the east. Officials report as many as 117 million people are living under dangerous wind chill warnings, advisories and watches, the agency said.
Locally, the American Red Cross Northeast Pennsylvania Region does not plan on opening any shelters or warming centers amid the cold snap forecast to arrive tonight, said Jennifer LoConte, regional spokeswoman for the nonprofit.