State of California Implementing Rolling Power Outages Due to High Energy Demand During Extremely Hot Weather. Residents Urged to Reduce Energy Use to Reduce the Strain on the Electrical Grid.
Due to a persistent, record-breaking heat wave in California, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) says customers should be prepared for the possibility of rotating power outages through at least Wednesday, August 19 during the late afternoon and evening hours. A statewide Flex Alert, which is a call for voluntary electricity conservation, has been issued through Wednesday, August 19 between 3:00 PM and 10:00 PM daily. If a large number of consumers conserve energy, it can reduce demand and strain on the power grid and help avoid or reduce power outages.
Reduce energy usage 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Pre-cool homes at 72°F overnight and in the morning
- Close blinds to keep out the afternoon heat
- Turn your A/C to 78°F or higher between 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Avoid major appliance use and unplug unused electrical devices 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Frequently Asked Questions:
- How long do rotating outages last? Rotating outages have lasted under three hours with most impacted customers lose power for about one hour.
- How can I find out where the next outages might occur? More information on CAISO rotating outages, including communities that might be affected, can be found on SCEs website.
- What is CAISO? The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is a non-profit Independent System Operator serving California and maintains reliability on the state’s electrical grid. It oversees the operation of California’s bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market generated and transmitted by its member utilities. The California legislature created the CAISO in 1998 as part of the state restructuring of electricity markets. CAISO is governed by a five member governing board appointed by the Governor of California. Learn more on CAISO’s website.
- See more FAQs.
More information on the Flex Alert can be found online.