In Michigan, Grid Instablity Expected To Last Through End Of Week -- Polar Vortex -- February 1, 2019

This is a long note, from a reader.

Although it's long, I will post the entire note.

This is in reply to my post regarding Xcel earlier. It wasn't just Minnesota that had energy / grid issues. Add Michigan.

Consumers Energy, DTE ask customers to turn down thermostats -

In the midst of a polar vortex that has brought record-breaking low temperatures to Michigan, Consumers Energy has called for customers to reduce their natural gas usage and DTE Energy is asking customers to reduce electricity usage. Consumers Energy sent an urgent text alert on cellphones shortly after 10:30 p.m. urging utility customers to lower thermostats and reduce energy usage or risk a dangerous gas shortage in the wake of record-breaking cold.

The temperature in metro Detroit hovered at minus 11 degrees at 10:30 p.m., smashing the record for Jan. 30 of minus 4 degrees set in 1951.And the Michigan Public Service Commission has ordered a suspension of all utility shutoffs during the cold spell, according to a news release from the Lansing regulators.  In addition to individual residential customers, General Motors has been requested by Consumers Energy to suspend operations at several manufacturing sites. GM operations are suspended at the following SE Michigan locations:

• Orion Assembly
• Pontiac Stamping
• Flint Assembly, Flint Stamping, Flint Engine and Flint Tool & Die
• Lansing Delta Township Assembly, Lansing Grand River Assembly, Lansing Regional Stamping, and Lansing Grand River Stamping
• Warren Transmission and the Warren Tech Center

Appeals flood consumers: Use less gas after utility fire —

Consumers Energy said its customers' reduced gas usage is helping it deal with a hobbled gas compressor station in Macomb County. "Consumers Energy greatly appreciates conservation efforts by all natural gas customers across Lower Michigan to assist with a supply issue on the company’s gas distribution network," officials with the energy company said Thursday in a statement.

"Conservation, even by gas customers served by other utilities than Consumers Energy, is making a difference." The news comes hours after the company's top executive called on the company's customers to cut usage after a Wednesday morning fire at its Ray Compressor Station. She also said there would be brief, localized shutoffs if customers ignored the request.

"This truly is an unprecedented crisis,"

Consumers Energy CEO Patti Poppe said Wednesday. "We have never been in this situation before." The governor and the public service commission also urged customers to cut gas usage due to the fire. On Thursday, the company said it was "cautiously optimistic that our public requests to reduce gas use are having a positive effect." Still, it pleaded with customers to continue conservation measures through the end of the day Friday because of Thursday’s historically cold weather.

"Repairs at our Ray Compressor Station are ongoing and the station is partially in service, providing natural gas to our distribution system," officials said. "However, we are asking that all customers continue to conserve until the end of the day Friday, Feb. 1, to allow for temperatures to moderate and additional repairs to the Ray Station."

GM halts operations at 11 Michigan plants after utility's urgent appeal

(Reuters) - General Motors Co said late on Wednesday it will temporarily suspend operations at 11 Michigan plants and its Warren Tech Center after a utility made an emergency appeal to users to conserve natural gas during extreme winter cold.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV also said it had canceled a shift on Thursday at both its Warren Truck and Sterling Heights Assembly plants and was considering whether it would need to cancel additional shifts. GM said it had been asked by Consumers Energy, a unit of CMS Energy Corp, to suspend operations to allow the utility to manage supply issues after extreme cold temperatures and a fire at a compressor station. It said workers were told not to report for the shifts at its Orion Assembly, Flint Assembly, Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly plants, as well as other stamping and transmission plants on Wednesday evening and early Thursday.

GM said it was still assessing when employees could return to work. Workers at its Warren Tech Center were also told to stay home on Thursday. In a video message posted on Facebook, CMS Energy Chief Executive Patricia Poppe said large companies, including Fiat Chrysler, Ford Motor Co and GM, had agreed to “interrupt” production schedules through Friday to tackle the issue prompted by a fire at a Michigan facility and the record-breaking cold. Poppe said the usage cuts by large businesses were not enough, and urged 1.8 million Michigan customers to turn down thermostats as much as they could to cut natural gas use in order to protect critical facilities like hospitals and nursing homes. “I need you to take action right now,” she said.

Ford Motor said it had also taken steps to reduce energy use at its four Michigan plants supplied by Consumers Energy, but added the situation remained fluid. A spokeswoman said it had reduced heating levels at Livonia Transmission and Van Dyke Transmission, stopped heat treatment processes at Sterling Axle and shut down the paint process at Michigan Assembly.

New York Regulators to Analyze Downstate Natural Gas Shortages -

The New York Public Service Commission (PSC) said this week it plans to analyze and report on the changing market conditions that prompted Consolidated Edison Co. (Con Ed) to impose a moratorium on new natural gas customers in Westchester County.

The PSC said it would develop recommendations to ensure utilities across the state are able to meet customer needs in a way that is consistent with Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s aggressive energy conservation goals.“Specifically, staff will analyze short-term and long-term market conditions, along with the capacity of natural gas infrastructure and alternatives, and their role in aiding the transition to a clean energy economy,” the commission stated.

Con Ed said this month that it could no longer accept applications for new natural gas service in Westchester County as demand is quickly outpacing pipeline-constrained supply. The utility warned that the moratorium would remain in effect until sufficient supply is available to meet the region’s needs.The report and recommendations are to be submitted to the PSC and State Energy Planning Board by July 1 for review and assessment of policies, programs and regulations to ensure reliable energy is available for customers and economic growth, while also aiding the state’s renewable energy goals. Those steps, the commission added, would aid broader efforts to help lower gas demand. Con Ed said it “made every effort” to explore alternatives, including solutions to cut gas use and employ compressed or renewable gas.

However, the utility said those alternatives aren’t enough to meet demand.

National Grid has also warned of a similar supply squeeze on Long Island if Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co.’s Northeast Supply Enhancement Project is not approved. That project has already had difficulties with state regulators during the application process for a water quality certification, which has slowed it down.