Summer heat causes blowouts in Saudi electric grid

Riyadh: Blistering summer temperatures coupled with a sandstorm caused power failures on Monday in the western region of Saudi Arabia, as the region suffered under debilitating heat wave.

The skyrocketing demand for electricity to power air conditioners forced eight power turbines to go off line causing several Saudi cities to lose their power, said the Saudi Electricity Company.

Company official Ahmed Al Dubekhi said in a recent statement that "Blackouts are taking place this summer because of an increase in the electrical loads."

Speaking before the turbine failures, he said that the company was prepared for the spikes in demand.