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

Sunday

03/15/2026

Mostly Clear

-° / 55°

7%

Monday

03/16/2026

Mostly Clear

87° / 58°

5%

Tuesday

03/17/2026

Clear

92° / 62°

3%

Wednesday

03/18/2026

Clear

93° / 64°

2%

Thursday

03/19/2026

Clear

92° / 63°

3%

Friday

03/20/2026

Clear

93° / 64°

1%

Saturday

03/21/2026

Partly Cloudy

91° / 61°

2%

Sunday

03/22/2026

Partly Cloudy

87° / 59°

2%