Alberta gets 2nd grid alert in 3 days as mercury drops

For the second time in a week, Alberta’s electricity system controllers have issued a warning that the grid is under extra stress.

In the grid alert posted on social media, the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) said “cold temperatures, low wind and generation challenges” prompted an alert just before 5 p.m. on Thursday.

“Albertans could see power outages lasting about 30 minutes,” Enmax Power tweeted soon afterand adds “power consumption must be reduced due to an imbalance in supply and demand.”

The last grid warning was issued around the same time of day on Tuesday.

When grid warnings are in effect, AESO advises Albertans to conserve electricity through the peak usage hours of 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

To remove load from the electricity network, AESO proposes measures such as:

• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances
• Minimize the use of space heaters
• Postpone the use of large appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers until after 19:00
• Slow down the charging of electric vehicles and/or the plugging in of block heaters
• Cook with a microwave, slow cooker or toaster oven instead of a stove
• Use motion detector lights in storage areas, garages and outdoors where possible
• Work on a laptop instead of a desktop

Earlier Thursday, Environment and Climate Change Canada issued an extreme cold warning, with extremely cold wind chill values ​​near minus 40 expected overnight.

AESO ended the grid warning at 18:18 on Thursday.

“Thank you for your conservation efforts!” the organization posted on social media.

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