It’s sweltering outside in Ohio (as well as other places). And all those air conditioners working overtime can strain the power grid, which could cause some to lose power or lead to rolling blackouts.
It’s already happening in Akron, where thousands lost power June 23 in an outage blamed on the high temperatures. Akron-based FirstEnergy said rolling blackouts may happen to manage the demand for power.
And while AEP in Columbus isn’t anticipating any power outages, there’s no guarantee rolling blackouts won’t hit there or Cincinnati, or elsewhere around Ohio during this heat wave.
Here’s what you can do to prepare and protect yourself when and if power outages or blackouts happen.
What is a rolling blackout? Is it the same as a power outage?
Rolling blackouts are an emergency measure to balance the demand for electricity in certain areas, according to Just Energy. They aren’t physical outages caused by downed power lines or damage to plants, they are intentional outages used by power companies and are intended to be temporary.
Can heat cause a power outage?
Yes. Heat waves increase the demand on the electrical grid because more people are running their air conditioners, and those units are running longer to cool an area, according to Climate Central.
How to prepare for a heat wave and power outages
If a heat wave is coming, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross and others have some advice on how to prepare for the hot weather and potential outages:
How to keep your food from spoiling
A power outage obviously means your refrigerator is out, too. And during a heat wave, food can spoil quickly. Home Food Services has some advice on keeping your food fresh as long as possible:
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Will the Ohio heat cause power outages, rolling blackouts? How to stay safe, keep food cold
Reporting by Chad Murphy, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
