Ep. 40: Inside the Control Room During June’s Heatwave with Emilie Nelson

In Episode 40 of the Power Trends podcast, NYISO Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Emilie Nelson offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the grid was managed during June’s heatwave, which brought record-setting temperatures across the Northeast. Nelson walks through the critical decisions and emergency measures that helped ensure adequate supply margins across New York. According to Nelson, forecasting, demand response, and a mix of energy resources—including solar and wind—helped manage the system during a period of sustained heat. The episode also covers the NYISO’s new Grid Alert System, which communicated system conditions in real time. Energy Watch and Energy Warning alerts were issued to the public over the course of the three-day event when reserves dipped below 2,620 and 1,964 megawatts, respectively.Nelson also describes how the NYISO prepares for periods of high demand, and how coordination among neighboring grid operators plays a critical role in maintaining system reliability.Listen to Episode 40 of Power Trends to learn more about how the grid is managed during extreme weather events. Visit our System Conditions page to learn more about the Grid Alert System.Additional ResourcesJune Heatwave Tests Electric Grid in New YorkLearn MoreFollow us on X/Twitter @NewYorkISO, LinkedIn @NYISO, Bluesky @nyiso.comRead our blogs and watch our videos