US News
Heatwave strains major US electric grids as officials warn of blackout risks
Federal energy officials and grid operators take emergency measures to stabilize power supplies across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic.
The short version
- A widespread heatwave across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic is driving electricity demand toward peak levels, increasing the risk of power outages.
- The Department of Energy authorized PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million people, to deploy backup generation to prevent rotating blackouts.
- Grid operators and local utilities are expanding operating reserves and urging consumers to reduce nonessential electricity usage.
- Grid stability remains uncertain as high temperatures continue to test capacity across multiple states.
Key facts
- The US Department of Energy warned of heightened blackout risks for the PJM Interconnection grid, which supplies power to 67 million people from Washington, D.C., to Chicago.[The Guardian]
- Energy Secretary Chris Wright authorized PJM to order backup generation online as a last resort to avoid Level 3 emergency alerts and rolling outages.[The Guardian]
- PJM issued a maximum generation emergency alert, requiring generators with planned outages to report how quickly units could return to service.[The Guardian]
- The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, covering 15 states, projected peak demand around 121 gigawatts, nearing its record peak of 127.1 gigawatts.[The Guardian]
- Local utilities, including Missouri's Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative, asked customers to raise thermostats and disconnect unused appliances to lower demand.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- Whether regional backup generation and voluntary conservation measures will be sufficient to prevent rotating blackouts during the peak heat window.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Blackout risk rises as heatwave stresses largest US electric gridsThe Guardian - World