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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — After the last heat wave that left thousands without power in Massachusetts in late July, electrical companies are trying to be proactive when it comes to heat wave induced outages.
Eversource spokesperson Chris McKinnon told WBZ's Karyn Regal that system operators are monitoring overloading in the system 24/7 to see where excessive power is being used. In doing this, they are able to remotely move around loads that may overheat and cause outages.
Equipment overheating is one of the main causes for blackouts during heat waves.
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"The actual physical equipment (became) overheated, like other types of machinery and technology can be overheated. We weren't dealing with overloaded circuits or anything like that because we were on top of it and moving that load around so we didn't experience any of those types of outages," McKinnon said.
While Massachusetts residents can't change the weather, power companies are urging them to use preventative measures to lower chances of outages.
One of those measures McKinnon suggests, is residents book a home energy assessment.
The assessment is done both in person and virtually and identifies energy-saving opportunities to lower usage which in turn lowers energy costs.
Another tip to beat the heat, officials say, is sealing doors and windows to keep the hot air out.
WBZ's Karyn Regal (@Karynregal) reports:
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