Why The Power Grid’s Failing Us

This summer, the reliability of our power grid is at risk. The nonprofit corporation that sets regulatory standards for U.S.-based operators like MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) has warned us about their potential shortages and great dangers going forward because they expect peak energy demand beyond what’s normal during hot months in Texas or other regions where there are elevated concerns with maintaining an ample supply throughout periods when people turn on devices most frequently–like air conditioners!

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Hydro-powered generators rely upon dwindling water reserves, without which the region must instead import electricity to meet demand on hot evenings as Texas and other parts of America continue their years-long struggle with drought conditions; this could cause problems for power grids across many states, including California, where temperatures are reaching triple digits each day.

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The report says that all U.S assessment areas in the Western Interconnection are at risk for energy emergencies due to wide-area extreme heat events, leading up to forced outages as well. “In an event where there is a sudden increase of temperature across large swaths or states—such has happened recently during California’s record-breaking hot summer months–power plants may have difficulty generating adequate amounts due to their equipment becoming too inefficient because they’re working hard just trying to stay afloat.” The report finds that “in the event of a wide-area extreme heat event, all U.S assessment areas in western interconnection are at risk for energy emergencies and forced outages.”

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Power Failures in Year’s Past

In the summer of 2020, extreme heat threatened to increase peak demand on the grid, forcing outages and other emergency procedures for load shedding. This is what happened last year when Texans were asked by their electricity provider in June after a June heat wave caused widespread blackouts that left many without air conditioning or power at all while they healed from Extreme Weather Events.

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The Midwest is facing a significant shortage of electricity this summer. MISO, which covers the region from Minnesota to Missouri and Ohio to Indiana, has seen its generation capacity decrease by 2% compared with last year, while demand projections are up about 1 7%. The company’s key transmission line was damaged in December after a tornado – leaving hundreds without power for weeks.

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Power Grid Challenges in 2022

The summer of 2022 will be a trying time for electric grids across America. This year, the Midwest grid operator MISO has already expressed awareness that they may need to shed load or import extra electricity to meet expected demand–a fact which points out just how susceptible our nation’s power distribution systems are during hot months when air conditioning units put pressure on homes all over land masses nearby from south Florida up through New England!

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The summer outlook from NERC points to ongoing strain on the supply chain, a result of both COVID-19 labor gaps and Russia’s war in Ukraine. The report says that there has been an increase in energy generation projects slowed by product availability issues as well delays due to shipping freight or lack of labor resources; this is coupled with cybersecurity threats posed by other actors like Russia, which could affect electricity distribution throughout America’s countrywide–a time when we’re also expecting some massive wildfires near transmission lines will likely happen (remember what happened last year).

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How You Can Help!

The good news is that you can do your part to lower your energy consumption of Grid power. Installing a solar system and battery backup means you can generate power from the sun, store any excess power generated, and do one of two things with it. If your city/power company supports net metering, you may be able to sell your extra power back to them and generate your energy and make a profit. The other option is to install a battery backup with your solar system allowing you to store your excess energy for use when you need it. (ex. at night, or during cloudy days)

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If you’re ready to start your solar journey, get started here. Follow us on social media for more helpful insights.

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