The powerful winter storm that pounded the Southeast on Sunday exited the Northeast on Monday, leaving utility crews battling iced-over roads, trees and power lines in a struggle to restore electricity to some 780,000 people at nightfall.
In the storm’s wake is a deep freeze that could have far-reaching effects on U.S. power systems — potentially crippling enough natural gas infrastructure this week to test regional grids serving tens of millions of Americans.
PJM Interconnection, the electric grid that stretches from Chicago to the energy-hungry data centers of northern Virginia, is forecasting it could hit a new peak demand figure of 147,000 megawatts Tuesday.
The nation’s largest grid operator warned that pressure will mount for power grids in all directions. PJM was exporting 6,600 MW of power to the central U.S. and New York early Monday.
