#Iso new england iso#

With that project stalled, following a rebuke by Mainers in a statewide referendum, itвЂ™ll take more time to find additional electrical supply in coming years through wind, solar and other projects. Van Welie noted that the Massachusetts-funded New England Clean Energy Connect in Maine, which aims to bring up to 1,200 megawatts of Canadian hydropower to the grid, could help.

New England is trying to shift to greener energy alternatives but that transition is going to take time. High natural gas prices are being blamed for the increase. In Maine, electricity bills are going up $30 per month on average for residents who adopt the вЂњstandard offerвЂќ rate starting Jan. Natural gas supplies are already having an impact. WeвЂ™ve seen it in other places, like California, with controlled power outages,вЂќ he said.

Natural gas prices remain about 50% higher than a year ago despite a drop in recent weeks. Marc Brown, New England director for Consumer Energy Alliance, said people should be concerned. вЂњWeвЂ™re depending on an energy supply chain in the region that is quite fragile, particularly during the wintertime,' van Welie said this week. The regionвЂ™s grid is often near the limit during winter months, but severe weather combined with high natural gas pricesВ and pipeline constraints could push the grid past the tipping point and prompt mandatory usage restrictions.

#Iso new england iso#

Much of the grid's power comes from burning natural gas, and right now that fuel is in shorter-than-normal supply and is subject to supply chain disruptions, said Gordon van Welie, CEO of ISO New England. Rolling blackouts may hit New England if there's an extended cold snap this winter, as the regional power grid operator warns of a вЂњprecariousвЂќ situation due to snags in the natural gas supply. Rolling blackouts may hit New England if there's an extended cold snap this winter. Central Maine Power utility lines are seen, Wednesday, Oct.