Preparing the Grid for More Intense Heat Waves

As extreme heat becomes more common, the risk of a grid collapse threatens to turn a dangerous situation deadly.

1 minute read

July 2, 2023, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Large power towers sillhouetted against an orange sky

naufalmq / Adobe Stock

Writing in Wired, Maryn McKenna and Matt Simon describe the risk posed by intensifying heat waves to the electrical grid.

McKenna and Simon note that “For all its faults, the electric grid is surprisingly resilient to heat emergencies.” As the article explains, “The challenge of a heat wave is that a grid has to constantly balance its supply of power and the demand for it.” Utility companies typically address this through importing energy and rolling blackouts when needed. A large operator like Arizona Public Service (APS) in Phoenix, for example, has plans in place to buy power from neighboring states when demand spikes. According to Justin Joiner, VP of resource management at APS, “It's like an airplane—we have multiple redundancies for everything.”

But heat is starting to impact electric grids more and more. “Earlier research by the multi-university 3HEAT Study that modeled the effect of a heat wave plus grid failure on Phoenix (and also Atlanta and Detroit) has found that the risk of urban blackouts lasting at least an hour and affecting at least 50,000 households increased by 151 percent between 2015 and 2021.” Extended blackouts can have lethal consequences, particularly for the elderly, people with chronic conditions, and people with medical devices who need access to constant power. 

Tuesday, June 27, 2023 in Wired

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.