US heat wave puts 160 million on alert, prompts energy emergency; Mamdani asks New Yorkers to stay home | Today’s news
As the heat wave hits much of the United States, it is putting significant pressure on the national power grid, prompting the Department of Energy to declare a state of emergency. Notably, around 160 million people in 30 states have been put on alert due to rising temperatures.
The energy emergency alert was issued by Chris Wright, the U.S. Energy Secretary, who has been managing the PJM Interconnection in the Mid-Atlantic region, the nation’s largest power grid, to ensure there are no power outages and that essential services such as hospitals remain fully operational during the heat wave.
In a statement issued Tuesday (local time), Wright said, “Maintaining affordable, reliable and secure power in the PJM service area is non-negotiable,” ABC News reported.
Quick answers to key questions
•5 QUESTIONS
About 30 states in the United States, affecting approximately 160 million people, are currently on alert for heat waves due to rising temperatures.
The U.S. Department of Energy has issued an energy emergency alert to prevent power outages and ensure essential services remain operational even as extreme heat affects the power grid.
The power grid is under significant strain with a record peak in electricity demand predicted as more residents use air conditioning during the heatwave.
Yes, New Yorkers are advised to stay home and stay cool to avoid the worst effects of the heat, as Mayor Zohran Mamdani advises.
PJM Interconnections has been focused on curtailing power supplies for non-essential facilities and is prepared to manage electricity usage to prevent outages during peak hours.
Read also | Europe’s latest heatwave: Spain reports 1,029 heat deaths
The state of emergency issued by Wright took effect at 11:59 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday and will end at 11:59 a.m. (local time) on Friday. In the declaration, Wright ordered PJM to limit its power supply to data centers that have electricity, as well as other non-essential facilities that use significant amounts of electricity.
PJM supplies power to approximately 65 million customers in the United States in places like Delaware, Ohio, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Washington DC.
The company itself predicted it would see a peak demand of around 166,304 megawatts of electricity on Thursday, an average of total demand per hour. This would be a record demand, surpassing the level achieved in 2006.
The East Coast of the United States, the Midwest and also the South are witnessing prolonged periods of extreme heat due to the heat wave.
An energy expert at the University of Houston told ABC News, “It’s really going to put a strain on the grid,” adding, “I think we’re going to see peak demand that’s going to be a record in different geographies.”
The expert also said that the heat wave, which coincides with the 250th celebration of American independence, is also a cause for concern: “Everybody will be at home for the 4th of July weekend, so I think you will see a significant load on the network,” he told ABC News, adding: “Home cooling will be the dominant source, where the late afternoon and late evening periods will prevail.”
Both the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) are forecasting peak demand in the coming days.
Read also | Large parts of the US will be hit by a dangerous heat wave, the NWS says
Mamdani’s advice for New Yorkers
Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, urged residents to stay indoors to avoid the worst of the heat. In his message, Mamdani also subtly alluded to plans for a Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce wedding at Madison Square Garden.
Mamdani told a media briefing, “My advice to all New Yorkers is to stay indoors and stay cool,” adding, “And if you happen to be getting married in Madison Square Garden, stay indoors and stay cool. And I think that’s a good example for the city as a whole in terms of these temperatures.”
