Northwest heat wave leads to record levels of summer electricity demand

U.S. Energy Information Administration -------- Multiple record-breaking heat waves swept across the western United States this summer, with the latest occurring in the Pacific Northwest from August 1–4, 2017. Coincident with the hot weather, some of the largest electricity balancing authorities in the area experienced record-high summer electricity demand on their systems. In the region’s largest cities, the highest temperatures were seen on Thursday, August 3, when Portland reached 105 degrees and Seattle reached 94 degrees. These highs were 23 degrees and 17 degrees higher than the 30-year (1981–2010) average highs for that day for Portland and Seattle, respectively. Despite the proximity of the cities, Seattle’s summer temperatures can be notably lower than Portland’s because of the nearby Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean’s moderating effect on Seattle’s climate. To learn more click on the picture below to read the article.