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Blackout risk rises as heat wave stresses largest US electric grids
AOL.com • • business
Key Points:
- The U.S. Department of Energy has warned of increased risk of power outages across a large area from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic due to intense heat stressing electricity supplies.
- The PJM Interconnection, the largest U.S. electric grid serving 67 million people, is on heightened alert, with backup generation authorized to operate to prevent blackouts.
- Temperatures above 90°F in cities like Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. are driving peak electricity demand, prompting emergency measures from grid operators.
- The Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) expects near-record peak demand of about 121 gigawatts and has increased reserve requirements to manage tight grid conditions.
- Utilities in affected regions, such as the Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative in Missouri, are urging customers to reduce electricity use by unplugging devices and raising thermostats to help ease grid stress.
