Climate Change

Climate change, the growing demand on our power grid and what we can do about it

4-minute read – in this article, you’ll learn:

• How extreme weather affects the power grid.
• What’s causing the growing demand for electricity, including advances in technology and AI.
• Simple actions you can take to reduce energy use and help improve the power system.

Now is the time to reflect on the systems that sustain us

The power grid keeps our homes comfortable and our modern world running. As climate patterns shift and extreme weather events increase, the grid faces new pressures to meet growing energy demands. From heatwaves to hurricanes, today’s changing conditions are testing limits of an infrastructure first built in the late 1800s.

How does extreme weather impact the grid?

Extreme weather is now the number one cause of blackouts in the U.S. Regions across the U.S. face strains on infrastructure not built for these conditions. In Texas, limited winterization led to power outages and frozen pipes during the 2021 winter storm. The Pacific Northwest’s record heat dome in 2021 increased electricity demand to record highs and caused grid equipment to overheat. In California, utilities implement public safety shutoffs during dry, windy conditions to prevent wildfires.

Extreme weather impacts the grid in several ways. Sometimes, power can’t reach homes because power lines are downed or damaged by fallen trees and debris during storms. During hurricanes, substations — facilities that control and distribute electricity — can flood, causing widespread outages. Other times, when demand spikes during heatwaves or winter storms, the grid become overwhelmed, leading to rolling blackouts or outages as supply struggles to meet increased demands.

What is causing the increased demand for electricity?

While extreme weather is one source of growing energy demand, development and technology are also increasing the demand for energy. This demand is projected to rise 15-20% in the U.S. over the next decade, according to the Department of Energy.

Significant factors impacting this growth are the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and its expanding data centers, cloud storage, communication tools and much more.

Utility companies, government agencies, regulators and other stakeholders are working to increase grid resilience. Efforts include raising substations that are vulnerable to flooding, deploying battery storage to supplement the grid, expanding renewable energy sources and connecting regional grids to improve overall stability.

What can we do?

While the challenges facing the power grid are significant, there are steps we can take to reduce strain and contribute to a more sustainable energy system.

• Simple actions like running high-energy appliances during off-peak hours can ease pressure on the grid, especially peak demand times.
• Conducting a home energy audit can identify ways to improve your home’s efficiency, reducing both your energy consumption and utility bills.
• Consider incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs from your utility.
  
• Battery storage can provide peace of mind by allowing you to store energy when demand is low for use during peak times. Most importantly, it can be used during power outages to help ensure you have electricity when the grid is most vulnerable.