Substation Failure Triggers Emergency Power-Use Cuts in Baltimore

Baltimore Gas and Electric asked its 1.3 million electricity customers on Monday to curb consumption after a substation failure disconnected a major power plant from the local grid. The utility warned that the loss of generation could leave supply short of peak demand, raising the possibility of rolling blackouts across Baltimore City and surrounding counties. The largest US grid operator responded by ordering emergency measures to cut power use in the region, seeking to stabilize the system as afternoon temperatures drove up air-conditioning loads. Officials said more than one million residents in central Maryland could face widespread outages if demand is not reduced while repairs proceed.