Polish Transmission System Operator (PSE) informs that it has announced system stress events on capacity market for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, during specified hours.

The announcement of system stress events means that all capacity providers with capacity obligations resulting from capacity agreements must fulfill these obligations by delivering the required power to the system during the specified period. Capacity providers must either make their capacity available to the operator or feed it into the grid (depending on the type of generating unit), while consumers under capacity contracts must reduce their demand. Contracted capacity market participants receive payment for availability and fulfilling their capacity obligations when requested by the TSO. Capacity market system stress events shall be announced at least 8 hours before the scheduled delivery time.

System stress events do not affect individual consumers and do not cause any inconvenience for electricity customers, except for those participating in the capacity market as demand reduction units with contractual obligations.

Detailed information on the hours for which system stress events have been announced, as well as related parameters, is available on the Capacity Market User Portal and www.pse.pl. 

The need to announce system stress events arises due to factors such as high demand, low projected wind generation, and the unavailability of capacity in thermal units.

Additional Information

The announcement of system stress events is due to the fact that the surplus of generation capacity available to the operator beyond consumer demand was significantly lower than the value required for system security.

The operation of the power system is planned in such a way that the operator always maintains a sufficient power reserve. This reserve is essential to meet demand when, for example, generation units fail, renewable generation is lower than forecasted, or demand is higher than anticipated. When the necessary reserve is not maintained, the operator must use various tools, such as rescheduling maintenance, ordering increased generation, overloading power plants, or using pumped storage plants. More information about system operation and tools available to the operator can be found on the “How the National Power System Works?” page on the PSE website.

System stress events should not be confused with administrative load reduction — these are separate mechanisms. Administrative load reduction, or restrictions on the supply and consumption of electricity, are “a last-resort measure.” If balancing the system by other means is impossible, the operator may impose restrictions on power consumption to prevent a frequency drop and a large-scale failure, potentially affecting systems beyond Poland. This could endanger lives and safety and result in catastrophic economic consequences. Therefore, operators must maintain stable system operation, even if it requires limiting consumption. Restrictions in the form of administrative load reduction apply only to consumers with a contracted power above 300 kW and do not include critical institutions, such as hospitals, that are essential for public safety and health. Individual consumers would not be required to reduce their demand.

It is worth emphasizing that each electricity consumer can support system stability through the rational use of electricity, indirectly helping to reduce harmful emissions. Meeting peak demand often requires the activation of older, more polluting power plants. Therefore, energy-intensive activities, such as heating a home with electric devices, are best done outside peak hours, i.e., between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM during the autumn-winter season.