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

02/13/2026

Mostly Clear

-° / 42°

4%

Saturday

02/14/2026

Mostly Cloudy

70° / 46°

4%

Sunday

02/15/2026

Partly Cloudy

67° / 52°

13%

Monday

02/16/2026

Showers

60° / 45°

57%

Tuesday

02/17/2026

Rain

56° / 42°

88%

Wednesday

02/18/2026

Partly Cloudy

53° / 40°

24%

Thursday

02/19/2026

Partly Cloudy

54° / 38°

17%

Friday

02/20/2026

Partly Cloudy

57° / 38°

13%