As the temperatures climb above 100 degrees in the interior of California's Central Valley, power officials are concerned about being able to keep the supply of electricity flowing and your air conditioner running. In fact, Pacific Gas & Electric Company is urging customers to go easy on usage of major appliances and anything else that will put a drain on the state's power grid.
PG&E's public request comes after the Independent System Operator, which manages the California power supply, issued a flex alert for Friday, August 14th, from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. A flex alert is a call for immediate conservation of electricity to avoid power outages. The ISO issued the alert in response to forecasted high temperatures and a predicted increase in electric demand, primarily from residential air conditioning use.
It's also recommended that you follow these power-saving tips:
- Adjust your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher if health permits or turn it off if you will be away from home. Use a fan instead of air conditioning, when possible.
- Draw drapes and turn off unnecessary lighting.
- Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use. Taken together, these small items can use as much power as your refrigerator.
- Avoid using electrical appliances and devices. Put off tasks such as vacuuming, laundry, dish washing and computer time until after 10:00 p.m.
- Set your pool pump to run overnight instead of during the day.
Above-normal temperatures for California are expected to last through the weekend and into late next week. Prolonged heat over several consecutive days is expected to drive electricity demand higher, as nighttime temperatures are also forecast to be above average.