August 14, 2020 was a very hot day in California. Temperatures were 10-20 degrees higher than normal, and demand for electricity soared as people sought relief from the heat by cranking up their air conditioners. The high temperatures also affected the operating capabilities of conventional fossil-fired generation units, which cannot operate as efficiently in hot weather. And, although California has the most solar generation capacity in the country, high clouds reduced the amount of electricity its solar generators could produce.
Whose Fault?
August 14, 2020 was a very hot day in California. Temperatures were 10-20 degrees higher than normal, and demand for electricity soared as people sought relief from the heat by cranking up their air conditioners. The high temperatures also affected the operating capabilities of conventional fossil-fired generation units, which cannot operate as efficiently in hot weather. And, although California has the most solar generation capacity in the country, high clouds reduced the amount of electricity its solar generators could produce.