The heat wave roasting California prompted the manager of the state’s power grid to declare a Stage 3 Emergency and direct utility companies to initiate rotating outages throughout California.
Southern California Edison announced at 7:45 p.m. that the California Independent System Operator directed it to begin rotating, one-hour service interruptions. Pasadena Water and Power also warned residents about the one-hour outages, while Anaheim officials said their outages would not last more than 15 minutes.
Cal-ISO, which oversees California’s electrical grid, declared a Stage 3 Emergency at 8 p.m., initiating the rotating outages throughout the state.
The emergency was lifted shortly before 10 p.m., and power was restored.
“A Stage 3 Emergency is declared when demand outpaces available supply,” Cal-ISO said in a statement. The order was declared after “extreme heat drove up electricity demand across California, causing the ISO to dip into its operating reserves for supply to cover demand.”
“Although a Stage Emergency is a significant inconvenience to those affected by rotating power interruptions, it is preferable to manage an emergency with controlled measures rather than let it cause widespread and more prolonged disruption,” Cal-ISO said.
A Flex Alert was issued earlier in the day, urging residents statewide to conserve electricity between 3 and 10 p.m. to avoid overloading the power system. But shortly after 5 p.m., demand on the system was so severe that Cal-ISO declared a Stage 2 Emergency.
Residents were being urged to cut back their electricity usage. Cal-ISO offered a series of tips, including:
— Turning off unnecessary lights;
— Using major appliances before 3 p.m. and after 10 p.m.;
— Setting air conditioner thermostats to 78 degrees or higher;
— Using fans; and
— Keeping drapes drawn.