PUBLIC SERVICE ELECTRIC AND GAS OF NEW JERSEY

EMERGENCY LOAD SHEDDING PROGRAM

To preserve the integrity of the system during emergencies, PSE&G has developed both manual and automatic load shedding plans cooperatively with PJM member companies. This program includes the following steps, although not necessarily in this order:

A. If time permits orderly load reduction and selected stations are manned, one or more of the following steps may be taken:

1. Voltage reduction, in steps of either 3% or 5%. This is accomplished by lowering voltage at certain generator terminals, switching station tap changers and regulated distribution feeders.

2. Reduce unnecessary load in PSE&G Company buildings and stations. 3. Selected customer voluntary load reduction. All large industrial and commercial customers have been contacted and requested to cooperate in a program of voluntary load reduction during emergency conditions. Over 800 customers with a load in excess of 340 mva agreed to this; these customers form the basis for the list used. When this plan is activated, these customers are contacted as necessary to obtain the required load relief. See attached list for details of customers and loads by operating Divisions.

4. All customer voluntary load reduction. A taped message is transmitted by radio throughout the service area requesting all customers to curtail unnecessary light and power. It is accomplished through the cooperation of participating radio stations.

5. Selective load shedding by distribution feeders-see attached statement for description of plan and list of customers and loads.

B. If the disturbance is sudden, requiring immediate load relief, selected subtransmission circuits are interrupted. This results in shedding load in large areas without regard to priorities or other means of load selection.

C. If the disturbance is sudden and accompanied by a decaying frequency, usually as a result of being separated from the PJM system and suffering a generation deficit, underfrequency relays will automatically interrupt circuits and shed load in three steps-at 59.3, 58.9 and 58.5 Hz. At each step approximately 10% of the system load is interrupted. Citical load is avoided in the first step, there is some in the other two steps.

A load shedding program of any magnitude resulting from an overall generation deficit will affect sections spread over the entire service area. Specific sections will depend upon the type, amount and duration of load shedding required. If sudden, nonselective load shedding is initiated, every effort will be made to convert to selective load shedding by distribution feeders as soon as stations can be manned, necessary switching accomplished and generation provided.

All distribution feeders (4 and 13-kV) have been classified into priority groupings as follows:

Group I.-Residential, small commercial and light manufacturing customers supplied from radial feeders and balance of customers not falling in Groups II and III, including one circuit of two circuit network areas.

Group II.-Large industrial customers that can be interrupted after notification, high rise structures, large shopping centers and network areas supplied by three or more circuits.

Group III.-Vital utilities, hospitals, gas producing and metering facilities, large food distribution centers, communication and transportation centers, critical process industries and other essential load determined by the Division Superintendent.

When selective load shedding is required, feeders are interrupted beginning with Group I. Selection of specific circuits within any group is dependent upon many factors, including available manpower for substation manning. Whenever possible, the blocks of load shed are rotated to minimize hardship to customers. A load shedding program of any magnitude resulting from an overall generation deficit will affect sections spread over the entire service area. A compilation of feeders, load and customers, by groups and by Division operating areas, is attached. A map of the service area showing the Division operating areas is also attached.

As shown in the group classification definition, critical customers in general are in Group III. This is the last group to be interrupted when load shedding is necessary. No attempt has been made to classify innercity poverty areas. In general they would be included in Group I; they would be included in the other groups only if Group II or III criteria were involved.

Police and fire departments and traffic control systems cover most of the operating area and do not fall into any specific classification. Experience has shown that traffic is adversely affected by load shedding. Traffic is also affected after service is restored if sychronism between signals has been lost.

Mr. D'AMICO. Reference was made earlier to the chart behind the gentleman and I have a reduced print which I offer to be part of the record.

Mr. HOWARD. Without objection, it is received.

Mr. D'AMICO. I also have two maps served by the various gas and electric uitilities in New Jersey and I offer those for the record.

Mr. HOWARD. No objection.

(The information follows:)