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Heat wave raises blackout risk across key US electric grids
The U.S. Department of Energy authorized backup generation in PJM ahead of a possible level 3 energy emergency alert as demand surges during temperatures above 90°F in multiple cities.
A severe heat wave is expected to increase blackout risk across a large stretch of the United States, as intense temperatures stress electricity supply for millions of homes and businesses, according to Insurance Journal.
The U.S. Department of Energy warned of heightened outage risk in PJM Interconnection, the largest US grid, which serves 67 million people from Washington D.C. to Chicago. Late Tuesday, DOE Secretary Chris Wright authorized PJM to direct backup generation resources as a last resort before declaring a level 3 energy emergency alert, one of the final steps before rotating blackouts are ordered.
Temperatures expected to top 90°F during peak demand include forecasts for Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. PJM also had a “maximum generation emergency” alert in effect early Wednesday, directing generators on planned outages to report how quickly units could return to service.
In the Midwest and the South, grid operator MISO, which covers 15 states, projected Wednesday peak demand near record levels, about 121 gigawatts, versus its all-time high of 127.1 GW. MISO said tight conditions prompted an increased reserve requirement, while in rural Missouri an electric cooperative urged customers to unplug unused devices and consider raising thermostats to reduce air conditioning use.