LOS ANGELES (KNX) — With temperatures soaring across California, the state's power grid manager issued a statewide Flex Alert on Wednesday, asking residents to voluntarily cut back on electricity during peak hours to prevent strain on the system.
The request to conserve power is most pertinent between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., officials said. After declaring an emergency for Wednesday, Cal ISO quickly issued a second Flex Alert for Thursday.
The California Independent System Operator had already issued a Restricted Maintenance Operations order in effect from Wednesday through next Tuesday, limiting maintenance operations between noon and 10 p.m. each day to ensure all power systems remain in service.
Wednesday could be the week's hottest day, but meteorologists predict the worst temperatures in Southern California over the Labor Day weekend, where temperatures could reach 115 degrees Fareinheit.
"Lowering electricity use during that time will ease strain on the system, and prevent more drastic measures, including rotating power outages," Cal-ISO said.
During Flex Alerts, state regulators urge residents to set thermostats to at least 78 degrees, avoid using large appliances, and turn off unnecessary lights.
Cal-ISO noted that its current forecast shows peak electricity demand could exceed 48,000 megawatts on Monday, which would be the highest demand of the year.
The extreme temperatures stem from a "heat dome" bearing down on California. Persistent high atmospheric pressure during warmer months are occurring more frequently, intensifying, and lasting longer, climatologists say.
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings through Labor Day from San Diego to Sacramento. It raises fears about the potential of wildfires and dry lightning. NASA researchers told the Los Angeles Times that climate change is not responsible for the "heat dome" phenomenons we experience, however extreme drought and the warming atmosphere make it more extreme.
"September is becoming a summer month," UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain told the Times. "I think we’re really seeing that manifest this year, where we’re going to start off the month with record heat. And there’s every indication that the rest of the month is still likely to be mostly warmer than average.”
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