California’s grid operator is warning of potential power shortages that could lead to blackouts Wednesday as a heat wave mounts and a historic years-long drought has drained hydropower supplies.
Officials asked residents to conserve power Wednesday between 4 and 9 p.m. local time as temperatures soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius). The California Independent System Operator, which runs the grid, warned on its website of possible power shortages during that time.
It’s the biggest test for California’s grid since the summer of 2020, when rolling outages engulfed portions of the state. It comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine triggers an energy crisis in Europe and as record temperatures driven by climate change tax grids around the globe.
