MAINE PUBLIC • August 7, 2024
New England’s electric grid operator issued a rare energy emergency last week when power generation unexpectedly dropped off during a heat wave. ISO New England said it had to call in reserve power resources for a few hours on August 1 to meet surging electricity demand as the region sweltered in temperatures over 90 degrees. The grid operator said that increased energy use in the early evening surpassed morning forecasts. And there were unplanned power plant outages including the loss of a 350 megawatt resource. That created a capacity deficiency that prompted a power caution alert signaling the grid was under stress and tapping reserve power, said ISO New England spokesperson Matt Kakley.