As temperatures rise, so does the likelihood of power outages. Warmer weather means more power consumption as people use devices like air conditioners and fans to try to cool their homes and offices.
According to a May report from the non-profit North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Upper Midwest faces a "high risk of energy emergencies during peak summer conditions."
"We've been doing it for nearly 30 years. This is probably one of the most depressing paintings we've done in a long time "According to John Moura, NERC's director of reliability assessment and performance analysis.
According to Reuters, several states, including Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Mississippi, will see an increase in the heat index in June. This means an increase in power usage that is unusual for the early summer months in states like Texas.
In an effort to address record power demand, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state's power grid, asked residents in a May news release to conserve power by avoiding the use of large appliances and setting their thermostats to at least 78 degrees during peak hours.
The vulnerability of the Texas power grid raises concerns following deadly blackouts caused by winter storms in 2020 and 2021. Droughts, wildfires, and heat waves have "overwhelmed some of the country's infrastructure," according to CNBC.
Although the Midwestern states are classified as high risk by NERC, the West Coast is also on the verge of danger: California, Arizona, and Nevada are classified as high risk. According to CBS, as power companies seek alternative energy sources, they are unable to replace old generators quickly enough.
Residents in Cleveland have complained about brownouts caused by an increase in electricity demand that exceeded the amount produced in June. Cleveland Public Power, an Ohio energy provider, attributes the outages to hot weather conditions.
After a heat advisory was issued last week, the city began providing cooling centers around the city in an effort to reduce brownouts and keep residents safe, according to local news reports. Other major cities, such as Chicago and Detroit, have used cooling centers to combat the heat.
Extreme weather conditions are a common cause of power grid outages across the country. Tornadoes, floods, and storms have left thousands without power in recent years, as such natural disasters have become more common, according to CNN.
"Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves around the world," CNN meteorologist and climate expert Brandon Miller said.