Five things to help you better understand what a Grid Alert is and what it may mean to you.  

Grid Alerts are rare, and when they happen you may have little warning – so having some background information can help you manage one.  

1. What causes a Grid Alert?
   Grid Alerts happen when factors such as extreme heat or cold, or a shutdown of a generation plant leads to there being more demand for electricity than the system can supply.
   
   
2. What is a rotating outage?  
   To avoid a total shutdown, the Alberta Electricity System Operator (AESO) will ask for the power to be temporarily shut down to specific areas of the province.
    
3. How long does a rotating outage last?  
   Rotating outages typically last no longer than 30 minutes. However, it never hurts to be prepared in case it goes longer – see our outage tips.
    
4. What can I do to help?  
   

   Saving energy and reducing demand is the easiest way for homeowners to pitch in. This includes:

   • Turn off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances.
   • Minimize the use of air conditioning/space heaters.
   • Delay the use of major power-consuming appliances such as washers, dryers, and dishwashers until after peak hours.
   • Delay charging electric vehicles.  
     
     
5. Who should I follow for updates?  
   Follow the AESO on X or their RSS feed for information about Grid Alerts. You can also follow ENMAX Power on X for Calgary specific information.