9/5/2022
Blackouts Possible as California Declares Power Grid Emergency
California declared a power grid emergency Monday (Sept. 5) as a blistering and sustained heat wave threatens to push the state’s electricity system to its limit.
With millions of homes and businesses cranking air conditioners to cope with temperatures above 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius), electricity use in the largest US state is forecast to hit 48.9 gigawatts Monday, the most since 2017.
The state’s grid operator is forecasting an energy deficiency between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. local time.
“California has been ridiculously hot and will be hot for a good part of the week,” Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster with the US Weather Prediction Center, said in an interview.
Much of California is under an excessive heat warning for the next four days. Sacramento could reach 113 on Monday and 115 on Tuesday shattering records for those days, Oravec said.
Downtown Los Angeles reached 103 on Sunday (Sept. 4), which was the first time the temperature broke 100 this year.
The heat wave, which began the last week of August, is remarkable for both its ferocity and duration, officials said.
Each day the heat drags on, the risk of power failures rise.
© CopyRights RawNews1st
- Make sure you like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RawNews1st/
