ALBANY — A powerful heat wave building across the East Coast this week is driving the projected electricity demand to near-record levels.
Temperatures are expected approach 100 degrees at times between Wednesday and Friday, leaving New Yorkers searching for cool places of reprieve.
Heavy air-conditioner use could push peak power needs near the all-time high during a week-long heat wave in July 2013, but the system is prepared to withstand the pressure, according to the New York Independent System Operator, a nonprofit that operates the state’s electric grid.
The independent system operator secured around 30% more electricity than it expects to deploy this summer. That’s done to ensure the grid can operate even if some electricity generators fail or don’t perform as expected, which is possible during extremely hot or cold conditions.
The independent system operator’s website has a page that outlines how the grid is performing at any given time.
The “system is in good shape,” said Patrick Stella, a National Grid spokesman. The company is mobilizing additional crews to swiftly respond to outages and fix equipment, which can be more susceptible to failure when it’s hot.
Small solar arrays on rooftops across the state are producing at record levels, helping dampen peak demand on hot, sunny days. For example, solar provided nearly 30% of the state’s electricity demand for an hour around noon on June 3.
Despite those gains, securing enough generation to meet grid reliability requirements is a persistent challenge because large-scale renewable energy projects have been slow to come online and several power generators, including the Indian Point nuclear plant in Westchester County, have been shut down in recent years.
“The margin between available and required resources has narrowed to roughly half of what it was in 2018,” the independent system operator wrote earlier this year.
When the grid is under the most stress, energy costs rise as the most expensive resources are required to keep the lights on. Natural gas, which New York relies on heavily, also experiences price increases as power plants try to access as much fuel as possible.
A myriad of energy efficiency tools exist to reduce power demand, which can save households money and reduce strain on the grid.
Running large appliances like washers and dryers at night or in the morning avoids impacting the grid when it’s most challenged.
Electricity bills can be lowered 3% to 5% for every degree thermostats are raised, according to research from Cornell University. Running a fan near an air conditioner helps circulate cool air.
There are also simpler methods to keep power usage down, including keeping interior doors open to help air circulate, closing window shades and turning lights off when they’re not in use.
The grid operator only encourages efforts to reduce electricity demand to the extent they’re safe. Utility companies are not allowed to disconnect service when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees.