How can the Southern power grid handle months of blistering heat with everyone blasting air conditioners, but can’t handle two days below freezing?

Question

How can the Southern power grid handle months of blistering heat with everyone blasting air conditioners, but can’t handle two days below freezing?

In: 1150

Answer 1

It isn’t the temperature differential, it’s that the power infrastructure itself can’t handle cold weather and more people are using their heaters than may have used their AC’s. Last year the windmills and power lines couldn’t withstand the weather conditions and failed, especially once ice starts gathering on everything

A 70° house is just as far from 40 as it is from 100, but the power infrastructure feels that same difference very differently