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Electricity

A Warmer World

Climate change is leading to higher utility bills — and not just because of rising temps

by Samantha Fields
Sep 10, 2024
Regulators approved more than $9.7 billion in utility rate increases nationally last year.
Building solar and wind farms, as well as transmission lines to connect them to the grid, is pricey. Utilities are passing a lot of these expenses on to ratepayers.
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Venezuela's power blackouts are fueling a surge in migration

by Catherine Ellis
Jul 24, 2024
Businesses, restaurants, hospitals and citizens are all grappling with recurring power outages — and debating leaving as a result.
Above, a view of the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, on July 10, during a partial power cut.
Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images
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A Warmer World

Some electric grids may feel the heat this summer

by Elizabeth Trovall
Jun 10, 2024
As ACs across the country kick on during heat waves, electricity demand will spike and some energy grids may fall short of supply.
High voltage power lines run along an electrical power grid in southern Florida. If temperatures peak above normal this summer, some regions of the U.S. may suffer electric shortfalls.
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Texans brace for high electric bills as temperatures rise

by Elizabeth Trovall
May 21, 2024
In Houston, the energy capital of the world, low prices are not a given. Experts would like to see more capacity and more conservation.
To manage her electricity bills, Robin Wright said she uses air conditioning sparingly. Many Texans are trying to adapt to summertime heat spikes.
Elizabeth Trovall/Marketplace
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New federal rule aims to create more long-distance power lines

by Daniel Ackerman
May 14, 2024
We'll need the lines to connect solar and wind power to new data centers, electric cars, heat pumps and so on.
As energy demand surges, FERC's new rule will help update the nation’s aging power grid.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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Electricity bills could hit your pocketbook even more this summer

by Henry Epp
Apr 10, 2024
The Energy Information Association expects electricity demand to rise by 4% this summer, anticipating that it’ll be even hotter than last year.
The EIA expects electricity demand to rise by 4% this summer, anticipating that it’ll be even hotter than last year. Many people will likely be running their ACs more to cope with the heat.
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The federal government wants to know how much electricity crypto uses. Crypto firms aren't happy.

by Henry Epp
Feb 5, 2024
The feds want data from crypto miners. The miners may file suit to block the request.
Crypto mining consumes as much as 2% of all electricity in the U.S., according to the Energy Information Administration. Above, a bitcoin mining operation in Rockdale, Texas.
Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images
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A Warmer World

Heat strains Texas power grid as population keeps growing

by Elizabeth Trovall
Aug 28, 2023
The state is home to many of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. Add record temperatures, and it's no surprise that the grid is stressed.
This summer, peak demand for the Texas grid is 11,000 megawatts more than it was two years ago.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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Superconductor breakthrough claims draw interest and skepticism

by Sabri Ben-Achour
Aug 2, 2023
Claims of a room-temperature superconductor have gone viral, but others' earlier claims to have achieved this have been debunked.
A superconductor chilled to a very cold temperature levitates under magnets. It's called the Meissner effect.
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A Warmer World

As extreme heat lingers, millions of U.S. households face a utility shutoff crisis

by Lily Jamali
Jul 7, 2023
And it's leaving some people without the electricity to power a fan or air conditioner during intense heat waves.
Utilities cut power to at least 3 million customers who missed payments last year and shutoffs happen most often in the summer, according to research from University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University.
Scott Heins/Getty Images
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