Due to temperatures that will push the heat index above 100 degrees F, Con Edison has asked New Yorkers to limit energy use between 2 PM and 10 PM, when people are highly likely to use air conditioning. This is a reminder that New York City has had several large blackouts in the last several decades. A software issue caused one, but the overloaded system triggered others.
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The way that the grid supplies work has changed. One difference between the current grid situation and that of decades ago, when there were widespread blackouts, is that the grid has built-in early warning systems that trigger alerts when demand gets high enough to cause interruptions. However, these still rely on routing over an old infrastructure and asking the public to cut consumption.
The United States Electricity Reliability Corporation recently studied which parts of the grid are most vulnerable to failure if demand soars quickly. One conclusion was, “While this year’s summer grid outlook is better than last year’s, some areas of the US still fall under an elevated risk of energy shortage and blackouts during unexpected extreme heat events.”
The study showed specifically which areas are at risk geographically. New York, New England, and Texas are considered at risk if heat reaches historic highs, which at this point is entirely possible. Texas has already had grid failure problems this year.
Northeast Blackouts From Years Ago
A small blackout occurred in a section of New York City on July 13, 2019. The last major blackout in the city was on August 14, 2023. Over 55 million people in New York and parts of New England were affected. In some areas, service was not restored for nearly two days.
It is hard to gauge the economic impact of a blackout on America’s largest city and the region around it. However, most business activity ceases completely. As temperatures reach 100 degrees and the electricity demand may reach record levels, another massive blackout could happen again.
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