Electricity in NE US seen as adequate this summer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A group that promotes power reliability says more generating capacity and reduced demand due to the slow economic recovery are expected to leave the northeastern United States and several Canadian provinces with sufficient electrical power this summer.

The Northeast Power Coordinating Council, which serves New England's six states, New York state, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Québec, said Wednesday it analyzed assumptions such as extreme weather conditions like prolonged heat waves with near-record temperatures, unexpected plant outages, transmission limits and response to demand.

It said that only if all conditions occurred at the same time, which the power group said would be unusual, would it be necessary to put in place procedures and programs to make sure electricity keeps up with demand.