NYC Heat Triggers Blackout as Soaring Temperatures Stress US Grids

Residential apartment buildings in front of the Manhattan skyline in the Queens borough of New York in 2024.

Photographer: Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg

Blistering heat is straining power grids across the eastern half of the US, leading to a blackout in part of New York City’s borough of Queens as the local utility issued a warning to conserve electricity.

Consolidated Edison Inc. is working to restore service to more than 6,200 customers in southeast Queens, the company said in a statement. The utility asked residents in the area not to use energy-intensive appliances like washers and microwaves until crews complete repairs.