| By Coco Liu and Naureen S Malik With temperatures set to exceed 100F this week, electricity grids in New York City and other areas along the US east coast are experiencing stress, triggering a blackout in the city on Monday and emergency alerts elsewhere. It’s a pattern that will likely be more common across the country over the coming months, but experts say there are changes consumers can make to help prevent power outages. “Extreme weather events of all kinds – heat waves, hurricanes, flooding events – are putting immense stress on the grid and on people’s lives,” says Kit Kennedy, who leads the power division at non-profit Natural Resources Defense Council. Simple actions by consumers, such as avoiding charging your electric car during peak hours and raising air conditioning’s temperature, can ease grid stress, Kennedy says. “Flexibility is going to be the key.” On Monday, Consolidated Edison Inc., the utility serving New York City, appealed to homes and businesses to conserve electricity in parts of Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island as heat strained equipment and air conditioning usage soared. The state grid operator also called on consumers to use less power to help avoid an outright grid emergency on Tuesday as well. The US is heading into a hotter-than-usual summer, and utilities across the nation have warned this could lead to power shortages. Here’s what you need to know about how extreme heat affects grids and how you can help prevent blackouts. What Does a Heat-Stressed Grid Mean for Consumers?
Wholesale electricity costs can spike in extreme weather. These prices are passed on to consumers on their monthly bills, but by how much and how quickly will vary. Extreme heat also distorts the normal flow of electricity on transmission lines, causing the electronic appliances in your home to use more power, says Bob Marshall, chief executive officer of Whisker Labs, a company that develops smart sensors to monitor power quality in homes. That’s because electricity travels across high-voltage lines in waves, and when those wave patterns deviate from what’s considered ideal, it distorts the power that flows into homes. That can add as much as 20% more on consumers’ electricity bills, according to an estimate by Whisker Labs. Higher utility bills are a pain for anyone, but poorer families suffer disproportionately. In the US, one in four low-income households spend more than 15% of their income on electricity and other energy needs, according to a 2024 study by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. On average, low-income households face an energy burden roughly three times higher than other US families, shown in data compiled by the Department of Energy. “When their prices go up, they face a choice between running the air conditioner, keeping the electricity on, or feeding their kids, paying the rent, buying medicine for their families,” Kennedy says.  Power lines in Austin, Texas, US. Photographer: Sergio Flores/Bloomberg How Individuals Can De-Stress the Grid
To cope with heat-induced stress, grid operators have leveraged artificial intelligence-enabled software to forecast energy demand and installed utility-scale batteries as a backup power source. But that doesn’t entirely solve the problem. There are several steps consumers can take.
Raise your AC temperatures, especially in the afternoon: Making your AC temperature a couple degrees higher is vital from an energy-saving perspective, says Marshall. And this doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing your comfort. One strategy is to pre-cool your home. That works by turning up the thermostat to cool your home slightly more than you’d like it to be in the morning, when power demand on the grid is relatively low, and then turning down the thermostat in the afternoon. Participate in “demand response” program: These encourage people to reduce electricity use during critical hours when power supplies are on the verge of failing to meet heavy demand. Utilities typically also offer financial incentives for participants. Even if there is no demand response program in your area yet, you can still help. You can postpone your plan of baking a cake or washing a load of laundry, if your utility sends out an alert urging consumers to help curb energy use. Known as time-of-use rates, many utilities offer cheaper rates to encourage households to use power at certain times of the day or week. Purchase energy-efficient home appliances: “Customers can help prepare for these hot summer days by making sure that all of their appliances are efficient,” says Kennedy. That includes Energy Star certified refrigerators, washing machines and ACs. Many utilities incentivize energy efficiency: Some subsidize the purchase of a more efficient home appliance, while others visit your home and help replace old light bulbs. Sometimes, utilities also help homeowners perform what’s called an energy audit, sending a technician to identify wasteful energy consumption in your home. Evaluating overall home efficiency can go a long way, especially in places like Texas. New homes are being built with better insulation and windows, slashing energy usage. Charge your EV at night: Juicing up an EV requires a significant amount of energy, and during a heat wave, it’s important to charge during off-peak hours, such as late at night, says Wang. An EV owner, Wang encourages the installation of a smart charger, which allows drivers to hook up the car when they get home, but only start recharging it when the time-of-use rate is low, an indicator that the power supply is sufficient. The arrangement not only helps safeguard power grids during summer heat; it also saves money. Read the full version of this story on Bloomberg.com. | 
