Residents Urged To Conserve As Cold Takes Toll On Regional Power Grid

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (AP) --Electricity demand has spiked across central and eastern states hit by severe cold, and power grid authorities are asking people to conserve energy when possible.

Officials with PJM Interconnection say there was record winter demand Tuesday morning, and another record may be set Tuesday afternoon.

PJM is a regional organization based in Valley Forge, Pa. It manages the wholesale power supply for all or part of 13 states. PJM is asking customers who can to conserve energy between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and they're also asking all power generators to be ready to supply emergency levels of electricity.

PJM serves Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

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