Xcel Energy extended power outages through Monday for Boulder County customers due to high winds, with about 30,950 customers affected. Crews are working to restore power, but the timeline is uncertain. The outages were a precautionary measure to reduce wildfire risk. Other areas, such as Longmont and Louisville, also experienced outages, while some facilities like hospitals and research buildings were affected. The company is partnering with municipalities and emergency managers to prioritize public safety during such events.
A major power plant in Australia's Victoria state shut down after a storm knocked out parts of the electricity transmission network, leaving over 500,000 homes and businesses without power. The Loy Yang A power station, responsible for a third of the state's power, was affected, causing electricity prices to spike. The Australian Energy Market Operator ordered electricity usage cuts across the network, and efforts are underway to bring the plant's units back online.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued a conservation appeal due to a winter storm hitting Texas, but the grid conditions returned to 'green' as the conservation appeal ended. The difference between forecasted available capacity and demand varied throughout the morning, with customers using less energy than forecasted. Despite earlier concerns, the actual demand versus forecast demand was off by 10,000 megawatts, and supply exceeded forecasted levels.
Frigid weather moving into the central U.S. is expected to drive natural gas demand to record highs, leading to soaring power and gas prices. The extreme weather could strain power grids as electricity demand surges and some gas supply is affected by freezing temperatures. Grid operators are issuing weather watches, and the situation is reminiscent of the catastrophic freeze in Texas in 2021. Gas output has already declined due to "freeze-offs," and power prices are set to jump to their highest levels since December 2022.
