Grid alert announced Friday in Alberta

They issue grid alerts when the power system is under stress and the AESO is preparing to use emergency reserves to meet demand and maintain system reliability.

Premier Danielle Smith says it is the second grid alert issued in recent days.

“Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf continues to work closely with AESO to understand the situation and ensure appropriate measures are taken,” says Smith.

She continued, “Our government is committed to protecting Alberta’s grid and ensuring our province continues to generate reliable baseload power both now and in the future.”

Some ways Albertans can limit their power usage include:

Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances
Minimize the use of air conditioning/space heaters
Delay the use of major power-consuming appliances such as washers, dryers and dishwashers until after peak hours
Use cold water for washing clothes—most of the energy used goes to heating the water (only running full loads helps too)
Delay charging electric vehicles and/or plugging in block heaters
Cook with your microwave, crockpot or toaster oven instead of the stove
Limit the use of kitchen or bathroom ventilation fans
Use motion-detector lights in storage areas, garages, and outdoors when possible
Work on a laptop instead of a desktop computer (laptops are more energy-efficient than desktop units)

More information is available on the AESO website.

by David Opinko

Grid alert announced Friday in Alberta

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