Chris Wright authorizes backup power resources to mitigate blackout risks across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.
The U.S. Department of Energy warned that intense heat will increase the risk of power outages across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions on Wednesday. The Department of Energy stated that temperatures in Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. were expected to rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit during peak demand.
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Chris Wright authorized the PJM Interconnection to use backup generation resources as a final measure before declaring a level 3 energy emergency. This action was taken to stabilize the grid and reduce the risk of rotating blackouts. The PJM Interconnection serves 67 million people from Washington D.C. to Chicago. Simultaneously, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator predicted that peak demand on Wednesday would approach record levels of 121 gigawatts. To manage these conditions, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator increased its normal reserve requirement to account for potential power plant outages and transmission line congestion. In rural Missouri, the Howell-Oregon Electric Cooperative advised customers to unplug unused appliances and raise thermostats to reduce air conditioning use.