The sun sets behind electric power lines as the California Independent System Operator urged conservation to avoid blackouts in Redondo Beach, California on August 31, 2022.Thousands of Colorado residents found themselves locked out of their smart thermostats during sweltering temperatures last week in an effort to prevent power demand from overwhelming the grid.reports
. That led to backlash on social media as some people said the temperatures inside their homes reached as high as 88 degrees Fahrenheit. Outdoor temperatures climbed into the 90s that day across parts of Colorado as much of the western US grappled with sweltering heat., that’s meant to ease the strain on the power grid during heatwaves. Xcel can adjust those customers’ smart thermostats when demand gets so high that there might not be enough supply to meet it.
Last week was the first time Xcel barred customers from overriding their adjustments in the six years since the program started, according to. High temperatures, soaring power demand for air conditioners, and an unexpected outage all contributed to last week’s energy emergency, Xcel vice president Emmett Romine toldExtreme heat is stressing out power grids across much of the Western US during a prolonged heatwave that started last week and is expected to linger well into this week.
They signed up for that.