Canada's grid issues alert, asks citizens cut power use amid winter storm

(Reuters) - The Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) on Saturday declared a grid alert in Alberta, and asked citizens to immediately reduce their electricity use to essential needs in response to ongoing extreme cold temperatures across western Canada, restricted imports and very high demand.

"Currently, the AESO projects the Alberta grid will face a 100 to 200 MW (megawatts) shortfall of electricity during peak evening hours," the operator said.

The Canadian electricity operator also said that rotating outages could be implemented until power demand declines or sufficient generation returns to the grid.

A massive winter storm bringing snow, ice and high winds across the U.S. States and Canada has also knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of homes across U.S. Midwest and Pacific Northwest on Saturday.

(Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Marguerita Choy)