NewsCalifornia News

Actions

California tests off-the-grid solutions to power outages

Power Outages Microgrids
Posted
and last updated

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A cycle of extreme heat, drought and wildfires is threatening California's power supply.

In the past two years, windstorms led utilities to deliberately shut off power to wide swaths of the state to lower the risk of power lines igniting wildfires. The state last summer ran out of energy when an oppressive heat wave triggered the first rolling blackout in 20 years.

To improve energy resilience, utilities and small communities are installing microgrids that can disconnect from the larger electrical grid and switch to using solar energy generated and stored locally.

Other tactics include increased electricity costs during high-demand hours and energy conservation incentives when the grid is strained.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Friday

01/23/2026

Fog Late

-° / 43°

8%

Saturday

01/24/2026

Partly Cloudy

56° / 41°

16%

Sunday

01/25/2026

Clouds Early/Clearing Late

61° / 39°

3%

Monday

01/26/2026

Clear

63° / 38°

2%

Tuesday

01/27/2026

Partly Cloudy

63° / 43°

2%

Wednesday

01/28/2026

Partly Cloudy

60° / 43°

18%

Thursday

01/29/2026

Mostly Clear

60° / 42°

7%

Friday

01/30/2026

Partly Cloudy

63° / 43°

5%