Summer’s here. It’s time for poolside drinks, evenings on the patio, and… ongoing power outages?
Wait.
That’s not great. Unfortunately, it may be what summer has in store for many Americans this year, with blackouts on the radar in many states across the country over the next several months.
Despite the dire prediction, there are ways you can plan ahead in order to avoid severe outcomes during a power outage. Take a look at why we’re facing this threat and what you can do about it.
Why it’s happening
Summer weather forecasts suggest we’ll experience temperatures across much of the country that are hotter than usual, driving up demand for power as residences and businesses look to stay cool. If energy needs spike too high, the power grid can quickly become overwhelmed. To compound the problem, drought conditions in Western states prevent cooling at power plants, leading to a heightened risk of overheating and mechanical failure.
In a worst-case scenario, increased demand due to high temperatures meets decreased supply as the result of equipment failures, and the outcome is catastrophic. (Aside from the time of year, it’s a scenario that isn’t dissimilar from the series of events that caused a devastating network of power outages across Texas in early 2021. High demand and equipment malfunctions in extreme temperatures led to a completely overburdened grid.)
We can all cross our fingers and hope to avoid widespread power failures—but you can also take more concrete steps in the direction of avoiding adverse conditions.
What you can do
Predictions for this summer’s blackouts are concentrated primarily within the Midwest, as well as Texas and some Western states. But the conditions that have led to these threats could easily become a reality all across the country, especially as above-average temperatures and extreme weather events become more common. No matter where you’re located, making a plan to reduce the disruption you’ll experience during an outage on the traditional power grid is a safe bet.
The grid—a massive electricity network delivering power to vast swaths of the country—functions in the background of our lives every day, delivering power to millions of residences and businesses. And when it isn’t working, life gets a lot more difficult. Outages cause ongoing chaos as affected individuals seek to restore their power, with an endless crowd of customers competing with each other for energy that is, at least for the moment, nowhere to be found. But if you’re set up with a system that facilitates energy production separately from the larger grid, you’ll be on track to maintaining normal operations even in the midst of widespread outages.
And that’s exactly what Catalyst Power’s Connected Microgrid can do. By bringing an on-site solar array to your company’s property, you’ll be generating and using solar energy all in one place. That way, if disaster strikes the larger grid, you’ll still be able to rely on this new source of energy that isn’t susceptible to conventional power failures. Solar generation will continue taking place right on your property, with battery storage allowing you to make use of on-site energy even during moments when solar power isn’t being generated.
Instead of calculating the money you’re losing during each minute of an outage, you’ll be able to continue on with business as usual.
Even more good news: Beyond protection against outages, the added benefits of a Connected Microgrid on your property are significant. The system will be installed and operated at no cost to you, and once it’s up and running, you’ll be able to begin purchasing solar power at fixed low prices and reducing your energy spending each month. Plus, by diversifying your power sources and decreasing demand on the traditional grid, you’ll be doing your part in making our energy systems more resilient for everyone.
Get started with a Connected Microgrid. It just might be the best thing you do this summer!
