With excessive heat in the forecast for the next week, electrical demand is expected to soar as Southland residents crank up their air conditioners, prompting power providers to urge customers to conserve wherever possible to help avoid outages.
The California Independent System Operator, or Cal-ISO, which manages the state’s power grid, has already issued a “Restricted Maintenance Operations” notice for 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, urging suppliers “to avoid taking actions which may jeopardize generator and/or transmission availability.”
“We are not forecasting any supply shortfalls at this time, but wanted to prepare consumers in the event that we need to call a Flex Alert,” according to a statement from the agency. “We will continue to monitor forecasted demand and supply conditions and will provide additional updates as necessary.”
A Flex Alert is issued when Cal-ISO believes power demand may exceed supply. The alert is a voluntary call for conservation by residents. If conditions worsen, Cal-ISO could issue additional emergency alerts, potentially leading to rolling blackouts in the most critical power-shortage situations.
Southern California Edison sent a message to customers Friday noting that the utility is “closely monitoring the electric system and preparing for the potential impacts of increased electrical demand.”
“We use every available resource to provide reliable service,” according to SCE. “Even so, extreme heat can increase energy use and put extra strain on the electric system, which may increase the likelihood of temporary outages.
“We encourage customers to prepare now for possible outages and periods of increased energy use. Consider charging mobile devices, reviewing emergency plans and making sure any critical equipment has backup power if available. You can also help reduce strain on the grid by conserving energy from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., including limiting use of major appliances during those hours.”
Power companies have offered a series of tips for residents to conserve energy. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power suggests residents take steps such as:
— setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to manage energy use during hottest parts of the day;
— avoiding the use of major appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners;
— avoiding the use of stoves or ovens that can increase indoor heat;
— closing curtains and blinds to reduce sunlight in the home;
— turn off lights and other electrical equipment when not in use;
— unplug items such as cell phone chargers, microwave ovens and other appliances that use power even when they are not in use; and
— visiting a cooling center rather than relying on home air conditioners. A list of cooling centers in the city of Los Angeles is available at emergency.lacity.gov/heat.