New York’s electric grid faced tighter supply margins this week as extreme heat, storms and a major power line outage pushed demand higher, according to the Times Union.
The New York Independent System Operator issued an energy watch Thursday and urged residents to cut electricity use where they could safely do so.
Gov. Kathy Hochul asked New Yorkers to set air conditioners between 75 and 78 degrees and avoid unnecessary appliance use during peak demand.
Storms added pressure by knocking out equipment and causing outages, while the new Champlain Hudson Power Express line from Quebec to New York City was also offline.
The grid operator has warned for years that New York’s power supply cushion is shrinking as older gas plants face retirement and new generation projects lag.
Wholesale electricity prices also spiked during the heat wave, adding pressure as more than 1 million New York households remain behind on utility bills.
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