The Power Grid Could Buckle During an Extreme Heat Wave

The power grid in the US is old and tenuous, and with the current “heat dome” that has settled over the southwestern part of the country, the risk of demand outstripping supply is very real. High-temperature records were set in several states yesterday:

Death Valley, CA: 127 Las Vegas, NV: 112 Palm Springs, CA: 121 Phoenix, AZ: 116

California utility companies have asked citizens to reduce power usage as much as possible or face rotating power outages to manage the strain on the grid.

The...