Sub-zero temperatures from Toledo to Tennessee pushed PJM to its limits last week as the RTO overcame the loss of nearly 40,000 MW of generation during an arctic blast that set a new winter demand record.

With two new types of demand response about to be introduced, PJM members last week took steps to clarify rules on substitutions and maintenance outages for the products.

PJM is adding more items to the to-do list resulting from the September heat wave, during which officials ordered limited load sheds to prevent a wider transmission collapse.

Below is a summary of 11 new recommendations resulting from PJM’s final report on the September 2013 heat wave. This is in addition to 11 recommendations made immediately after the events of Sept. 9-11.

PJM overcame the loss of nearly 40,000 MW of generation yesterday, keeping the lights on in the second day of an arctic blast that set a new winter demand record.

PJM operators dispatched demand response this morning after cutting voltages and calling on spinning reserves last night as frigid temperatures stressed generators and created record loads across the RTO.

It took three tries Dec. 9 before the Members Committee reached consensus on Tariff changes that will allow PJM operators more flexibility in dispatching demand response.

Members agreed to develop rules for demand response providers requesting maintenance outages.

The volume and magnitude of changes PJM is attempting to impose on demand response raise the question of whether the high-flying sector is still a growth business or one in retreat.

The MD PSC worked with PJM to ensure new rules on demand response would not ruin the state’s “mass market” DR: EmPOWER Maryland, part of an initiative to reduce energy consumption by 15% below 2007 levels.