Summer has officially arrived, putting pressure on the grid.

Sure! Here’s the rewritten content with promotional call-to-actions neutralized:

—

We rely on electricity to keep ourselves comfortable and safe. These are the moments for which the grid is designed: when demand is at its highest. The key to maintaining smooth operations during these times may lie in a bit of flexibility.

While heat waves occur globally, let’s consider my local grid as an example. I’m among roughly 65 million people served by PJM Interconnection, the largest grid operator in the U.S. PJM oversees Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, along with portions of a couple of neighboring states.

Earlier this year, PJM projected that electricity demand would peak at 154 gigawatts (GW) this summer. Recently, just a few days after the official start of the season, the grid surpassed that, averaging over 160 GW between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The fact that we’ve already exceeded both last year’s peak and this year’s forecast is not necessarily a disaster (PJM indicates that the system’s total capacity is over 179 GW this year). However, it does warrant some concern. Typically, PJM experiences its peak in July or August. As a reminder, it’s still June. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised if electricity demand rises to even higher levels later in the summer.

This pattern isn’t isolated to PJM. MISO, which serves most of the Midwest and parts of the U.S. South, announced that it expected to approach its peak demand this week. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order for parts of the Southeast, enabling local utilities to increase generation while temporarily bypassing air pollution limits during high-demand periods.

The trend of maxing out the grid is likely to persist. Climate change is driving temperatures up, while electricity demand is swelling—partly due to data centers like those powering AI technologies. PJM’s forecasts suggest that the summer peak in 2035 could soar to nearly 210 GW, significantly surpassing the 179 GW it can provide today.

Clearly, more power plants need to be constructed and integrated into the grid in the coming years (especially if we wish to phase out outdated, inefficient coal plants). However, there is a strategic approach that could minimize the need for new construction: flexibility.

The power grid must be designed for peak demand moments, like this current heat wave. Yet, much of the existing capacity remains idle most of the time, activated only during demand surges. By reducing demand at peak times, we can lessen the total infrastructure required to maintain the grid.

—

Let me know if you need any further adjustments!