'Stretched to the limit': Heat wave prompts US electrical grid emergency - ABC News
The U.S. Department of Energy declared an emergency due to a severe heat wave impacting the nation's electrical grid, directing PJM Interconnection to prevent blackouts. This includes curtailing power to data centers with backup generators across its 13-state service territory. Record electricity demand is expected during the Fourth of July holiday, straining multiple regional grids.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has declared an Energy Emergency Alert due to a severe heat wave affecting 160 million people across 30 states. U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright issued the alert, directing PJM Interconnection, the largest electrical grid operator serving 13 Mid-Atlantic states and Washington, D.C., to implement measures to prevent blackouts. These measures include curtailing power to data centers with backup generators and other non-emergency facilities from Tuesday evening through Friday evening.
PJM is forecasting a record-breaking electricity peak demand of 166,304 megawatts on Thursday. Other major grid operators, including the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO), Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), and ISO-New England, also anticipate near-record demand. The University of Houston's vice president of energy and innovation, Ramanan Krishnamoorti, warned of significant strain on the grid, with potential rolling blackouts in localized areas and challenges for ISO-New England due to reduced power imports from Canada, which is also experiencing a heat wave.
The heat wave coincides with the Fourth of July holiday weekend, further exacerbating demand as residential cooling becomes a dominant load factor. Nighttime temperatures are expected to offer little relief, preventing routine power plant maintenance. ISO-New England spokesperson Matthew Kakley stated the company is prepared for tight conditions and will closely monitor demand, asserting that operators have tools to balance supply and demand.