More than 17 states are said to be facing “power emergencies” under orders from the U.S. government as extreme heat puts the country’s power grid under pressure. U.S. Department of Energy explain. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a warning on Sunday to help prevent power shortages during an ongoing heat wave.
The order allows Southwest Power Company (SPP), which manages power in parts of the central United States, to use backup generation resources when needed to relieve stress on the grid, WTHR said. About 20 million people live in the area covered by the emergency order, which stretches from North Dakota in the north to Louisiana in the south.
17 states issue emergency orders
The emergency order covers the following 17 states:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- colorado
- Iowa
- kansas
- Louisiana
- minnesota
- missouri
- Montana
- nebraska
- New Mexico
- north dakota
- Oklahoma
- south dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Wyoming
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What does an emergency order mean?
The emergency order does not mean power outages now. Instead, it gives grid operators additional power to keep power flowing before things get worse. The Southwest Power Pool can now direct backup generators to operate if demand is too high.
The use of backup power is considered a last resort before Level 3 is issued energy emergency alert. A Level 3 energy emergency alert could result in actions to reduce electricity demand, including rolling blackouts, to prevent the entire grid from failing. WTHR noted that the emergency order will remain in effect until August 3.
The U.S. Department of Energy said the order was intended to “mitigate the risk of power outages during dangerously hot weather.” U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the order aims to “maintain affordable, reliable and safe power for hardworking American families and businesses.” Power outages are costly for the country. It is estimated that power outages cost the U.S. economy $44 billion annually.
Heat wave sweeps U.S.
The emergency order comes as at least 40 million Americans are under extreme heat warnings in central and southern parts of the country over the weekend. Dangerously high temperatures are affecting much of the United States for a second day in a row, with high temperatures and severe humidity.
According to the National Weather Service, heat index values ​​are well above 100°F from Minnesota to Mississippi, while parts of the Southwest are expected to reach 120°F. Meteorologists said the heat was caused by another heat dome that trapped hot air over the area.
Heat is now an energy issue
Former U.S. Department of Energy official Kerry Dugan said extreme heat is no longer just a weather issue. She said this is now also becoming a major challenge for the power system, WTHR reported.
“As we experience more frequent and longer-lasting heat waves, our ability to protect our homes,” Dugan said, enterprise Cooling critical facilities depends on having a reliable and resilient electrical grid. She said communities will need different sources of power, including solar and battery storage, to meet growing demand and keep the grid stable.
“The hotter it is, the more solar energy is needed to keep the air conditioning running,” Dugan added. “The solution is within the problem,” she concluded.
