Blackout risk rises as heatwave stresses largest US electric grids
US energy department warns of potential for outages in PJM Interconnection, serving 67 million from DC to Chicago The risk of power outages is expected to escalate across a broad swath of the United States on Wednesday as intense heat will test the capacity of electricity supplies serving millions of homes and businesses from the midwest through the mid-Atlantic. The US Department of Energy…
The US Department of Energy has issued a warning that potential power outages may become more frequent across a large portion of the United States on Wednesday. This heightened risk is due to an intense heatwave that is straining the capacity of electricity supplies in the PJM Interconnection, the largest US electric grid. This grid serves approximately 67 million people, spanning from Washington DC to Chicago.
The energy department's warning follows the authorization given to PJM to deploy backup generation resources as a last resort, before resorting to level three energy emergency alerts. These alerts could precede the implementation of rotating blackouts, according to the department.
The warning comes as temperatures are expected to soar above 90F (32C) in cities like Chicago, St Louis, and Washington DC, during peak electricity demand. In response, PJM's "maximum generation emergency" alert has been issued, directing generators to report their readiness for service.
Meanwhile, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (Miso), responsible for 15 US states in the midwest and south, anticipates that peak demand on Wednesday could reach near-record levels of 121 gigawatts. Miso has raised its reserve requirement to buffer against potential power plant outages and transmission line congestion.
In rural Missouri's Ozark region, the Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative has advised customers to unplug unused chargers and appliances to cope with the ongoing extreme heat. Additionally, customers are being encouraged to raise their thermostats to minimize air conditioning use.
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