Every evening between 5 and 6 PM across California, the sun starts to set, office workers head home, ovens click on, and the electricity grid enters one of its most demanding periods of the day. Electricity prices rise, natural gas plants ramp up quickly, and utilities work to balance supply and demand in real time.
For everyday consumers, this evening window increasingly affects how and when they use connected devices, from smart thermostats adjusting temperature settings to electric vehicles scheduling their charging cycles to avoid peak pricing.
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Energy researchers often describe this moment as a daily stress test for a power system that now relies heavily on renewable generation.
California’s grid operates under a unique mix of technologies and market rules. Solar power now provides a large share of daytime electricity, while natural gas plants still play a role in balancing supply when demand spikes
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