VIDEO: New York's Electric Grid Prepared to Meet Summer Demand
Electricity supplies in New York State will be adequate to meet forecasted peak demand conditions, our system operations experts have determined for our annual review of summer demand expectations.
We forecast that peak load this summer will reach 32,296 megawatts (MW), below the 41,319 MW of power resources available across the state. This year’s estimated peak demand is slightly lower than last summer’s baseline forecast. The lack of growth in demand reflects the growth of distributed energy resources, such as rooftop solar, and energy efficiency initiatives administered by utilities and the state.
New York’s record peak demand of 33,956 MW was set in July 2013 at the end of a weeklong heat wave. Peak demand is a measurement of the highest average total electric demand in a one-hour period. One MW can serve about 800 to 1,000 homes. 
While the state’s response to COVID-19 has led to an 8- 10% drop in overall electricity usage throughout New York, this has not impacted the NYISO’s summer peak load projections. This is due to several factors, including an expected gradual increase in load due to the re-opening plan outlined by the state, as well as the expected greater use of home air conditioning. Hot weather, which drives air conditioning load, is the largest factor in assessing peak demand.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have taken proactive action to preserve system reliability and protect the safety of our critical control room operators, including sequestering our operators for nearly two months and making use of our backup control room as an additional safeguard. The NYISO has also been in regular contact with New York transmission and generator owners to maintain healthy critical employees, and confirm that appropriate system maintenance is scheduled and completed to ensure full operating capability during peak hot weather.
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