ALBANY\u00a0\u2014 A powerful heat wave building across the East Coast this week is driving the projected electricity demand to near-record levels.<\/p>\n
Temperatures are expected approach 100 degrees at times between Wednesday and Friday, leaving New Yorkers searching for cool places of reprieve. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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\u2019s electric grid.<\/p>\n
The independent system operator secured around 30% more electricity than it expects to deploy this summer. That\u2019s done to ensure the grid can operate even if some electricity generators fail or don\u2019t perform as expected, which is possible during extremely hot or cold conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The independent system operator\u2019s\u00a0website <\/a>has a page that outlines how the grid is performing at any given time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n The \u201csystem is in good shape,\u201d 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\u2019s hot.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s electricity demand for an hour around noon on June 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u00a0in Westchester County<\/a>,\u00a0have been shut down in recent years.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe margin between available and required resources has narrowed to roughly half of what it was in 2018,\u201d the independent system operator wrote earlier this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A myriad of energy efficiency tools exist to reduce power demand, which can save households money and reduce strain on the grid.\u00a0<\/p>\n Running large appliances like washers and dryers at night or in the morning avoids impacting the grid when it\u2019s most challenged.\u00a0<\/p>\n