Largest US Grid Pushes Power Plants to Secure Gas Through Week

The largest US grid operator is pushing power plants to secure natural gas supplies through the week amid expectations that frigid temperatures will drive electricity usage to a winter record.

PJM Interconnection LLC is taking a rare step of committing to buy power from generators through 10am on Jan. 31, as opposed to its typical method of making day-ahead purchases, staff said in a weather briefing with members Sunday evening. The commitments will allow power plants to proactively procure gas supplies even as curtailed production and rising demand lift prices to the highest since 2022.