"Emergency Power Alerts and Grid Strain: Lessons from Extreme Cold in Alberta and Texas"
An Arctic blast sweeping through North America is straining electric grids from Texas to Alberta, leading to power price surges and warnings of potential blackouts. Texas is facing one of its biggest grid tests since deadly winter blackouts in 2021, with record power demand expected. Cold weather is prompting energy conservation pleas in Washington State and Alberta, while over 250,000 US homes and businesses were without power on Sunday. The extreme conditions can disrupt energy supplies and natural gas facilities, leading to power price surges in some areas. Texas, in particular, is on high alert as it braces for freezing temperatures and potential ice, with the grid expected to be most strained on Monday and Tuesday mornings.