Maryland residents are bracing themselves for possible rolling power outages across central regions, as Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) prepares for a potential grid malfunction that could impact thousands of households. With ongoing evaluations by PJM Interconnection, the region's grid operator, officials are urging customers to prepare by stocking up on essentials, conserving energy, and staying informed through regular updates from BGE, with some areas already taking proactive measures to minimize their energy consumption and ensure public safety.

Maryland faces a potential risk of rolling blackouts due to rising electricity demand. According to Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) Vice President Steven Singh, the increasing adoption of electric vehicles and the prevalence of remote work are significant contributors. The surge in EV charging and the shift to home-based work during traditional business hours are placing a substantial strain on the existing power grid. Current infrastructure may be insufficient to handle this increased load without necessary upgrades. Challenges also arise from the interconnected nature of the regional power grid, where issues in neighboring areas can impact Maryland’s electricity supply. To address this growing concern, several solutions and actions are being considered. These include substantial investments in modernizing and expanding the power grid, upgrading transmission lines, substations, and distribution infrastructure. Encouraging consumers to shift electricity usage to off-peak hours through demand response programs, promoting distributed generation like solar panels and battery storage, and advocating for energy efficiency measures in homes and businesses are also key. Implementing smart grid technologies, including smart meters and advanced grid management systems, can optimize energy distribution and better balance supply and demand. Successful planning and implementation require close collaboration between BGE, the Maryland Public Service Commission, and other relevant stakeholders. BGE has already begun implementing reliability improvements. The company has deployed technologies to create a “self-healing” grid, which automatically isolates faults and reroutes power, minimizing disruptions from minor issues. Automated systems are also in place to quickly identify and address problems, enhancing overall grid resilience. This situation isn’t isolated to Maryland, as many regions across the U.S. are confronting similar challenges. Proactive energy planning, infrastructure investment, and supportive policies are crucial to guarantee a reliable and sustainable electricity supply and avoid potential economic impacts stemming from rolling blackouts.

Recent weekend events saw a sudden disruption at the River Bend Station nuclear power plant in St. Francisville, contributing to widespread power outages affecting a significant portion of Louisiana. Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis reported the unexpected shutdown occurred Sunday, coinciding with a planned maintenance outage at Waterford 3 near Killona. This simultaneous occurrence created an energy deficit, triggering rolling blackouts that left over 100,000 customers without electricity. The impacted areas included New Orleans, where 52,000 customers were affected, along with substantial numbers in Jefferson, St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, and Washington parishes. Power has since been fully restored as of Monday morning. Commissioner Lewis questioned the circumstances leading to the widespread outages, suggesting potential issues with energy forecasting, grid modeling, or an inaccurate assessment of energy demand. The precise reason for River Bend Station's failure remains under investigation, with Entergy, the plant’s operator, facing scrutiny. Entergy stated that the forced shutdowns were mandated by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) as a measure to avert a larger, more protracted power failure across the regional grid. MISO oversees the electrical infrastructure spanning portions of 15 states and parts of Canada.

Eskom said there has been a higher than expected demand for electricity.

Eskom spokesperson confirmed that load shedding will continue until 5am on Monday.

Eskom has announced that load shedding will be downgraded from stage 4 to stage 2 from 5 a.m. on Tuesday until further notice.  The parastatal has

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The parastatal ramped the rolling blackout from stage 3 to stage 6 in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The utility said that the move was needed after multiple units tripped at the Camden power station.

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Eskom said this has necessitated the use of its emergency reserves