Periodic power outages possible in the upper Midwest this summer

[bwframe]

Perfect time to need your generator, with gas pushing $5 a gallon.

Let's go Brandon!

 

[indyartisan]

After looking at the above map I notice there's a small area in northern Indiana that seems less affected than the rest of the region. Could this have any thing to do with this being Pete Booty Judges old stomping ground or am I off? Funny how Chitown isn't at risk as well.

Maybe the nuke plants at the western end of Lake Erie and Chicago ?

 

[Jaybird1980]

We have a higher risk than California?
Huh?
They ALREADY have power outages.

But that's "normal conditions" for them.

 

[Ark]

Skyrocketing inflation, food shortages, record high gas. Sure, screw it, why not add third world style brownouts to Biden's America?

 

[BigRed]

We have a higher risk than California?
Huh?
They ALREADY have power outages.

A progressive dream come true.

 

[Hardscrable]

Funny how so many problems seem to keep popping up in the last 16 months or so. As long as natural gas line to my Generac is functioning we will be OK. If no natural gas we have bigger problems than rolling bleach outs.

 

[Hardscrable]

Oh, almost forgot…FJB

 

[Frontiersman]

They are just trying to make us want solar and wind power. Midwest conservatives typically resist or at least question change - particularly when it comes from our fine and all providing government. Nothing like turning the lights off to get peoples attention.

 

[BigRed]

Oh, almost forgot…FJB

Sideways with a pitch fork.

 

[bobzilla]

Yes, as a stable energy customer that hasn’t had an outage longer than 3 hours in the 19 years in this house, I’m behind the curve. And financially it wasn’t in the cards.

Luckily I’m the past 8 months that has changed a bit. So I’m playing catch up.

we were the opposite. The IPL lines running down the main road were od and patched and every time it got windy (so, every day) we'd have snapped lines and outages. When it happens in the middle of winter, you're snowed in, it's -10 outside and your house is total electric, you start thinking about alternatives quickly.

The year after we got the genny, they came through and replaced the lines. We haven't had an outage for a loooooong time. But if we do... I'm prepared.

 

[bobzilla]

They are just trying to make us want solar and wind power. Midwest conservatives typically resist or at least question change - particularly when it comes from our fine and all providing government. Nothing like turning the lights off to get peoples attention.

I've been begging for a small wind generator at our place for years. They only want to sell me solar.

 

[Frontiersman]

Been pushing me for solar too. Hate to give up so much space. They are surveying us for a county wide wind farm. I expect it will happen, eventually. I wouldnt mind a small one for my own use.

 

[HoughMade]

*Quickly calculates how big of a genny is required for a small chest freezer and fridge.*

I have a 4000 watt that will do that and several other things....but not the well of A/C.

 

[HoughMade]

This is an infographic that expands upon the OP.



Notice what I highlighted- a modest 1.7% increase in demand, but a significant reduction in generating capacity.

Thanks environmentalists.

 

[KLB]

After looking at the above map I notice there's a small area in northern Indiana that seems less affected than the rest of the region. Could this have any thing to do with this being Pete Booty Judges old stomping ground or am I off? Funny how Chitown isn't at risk as well.

Part of a different transmission org

 

[KLB]

If anyone wants to dig through the whole report

https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_SRA_2022.pdf

 

[Hardscrable]

I had 2 PTO generators at the farm. When I retired and moved I bought a compact diesel tractor to keep here and had a transfer switch installed. Sold 1 generator and kept the remaining 1 here. Ran entire house including furnace or A/C, shop, etc. Worked well usually except if tractor was at farm, middle of the night, etc. Didn't work at all if we were gone. And question was always should I get everything out, hooked up, and running. Or wait to see if it will be off long enough to make it worth while. If had it running at night I would stay awake to monitor. Finally got tired of all that and put in the Generac. Winter, summer, anytime electric is off iy works great with no work involved. Correct choice for me, no regrets. YMMV

 

[Leo]

After looking at the above map I notice there's a small area in northern Indiana that seems less affected than the rest of the region. Could this have any thing to do with this being Pete Booty Judges old stomping ground or am I off? Funny how Chitown isn't at risk as well.

Chicago can grid over to the Byron and Braidwood nuclear facilites.

I am baffled that area supplied by the Nukes operated by Wisconsin electric are even on the list. Last I was in the area, two of the plants were maintaining capacity with only one unit running. They had switching installed on residential electric water heaters to shut them off when nearing peak load to avoid the expense of putting the 2nd plant on line. Inconvenience, maybe, but certainly less than losing a freezer full of meat.

 

[Farmerjon]

Sideways with a pitch fork.

And a dull one fresh from pitching manure.

 

[Ingomike]

So I was recently told by an executive in nukes that our government is paying huge profits to companies that buy nukes and decommission them. They have created a perverse incentive to cut power not create it…