The California Independent System Operator called a statewide Flex Alert for Wednesday, calling for voluntary electricity conservation because predicted high temperatures will increase energy demand and tighten available power supplies.
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings for central California, with temperatures expected to reach up to 109 degrees in the San Joaquin Valley. Southern California Edison is asking its residential and business customers to reduce their energy usage Wednesday from 4-9 p.m. to help reduce strain on the electrical grid. As more customers take these actions, conservation will go a long way.
Customers are encouraged to set thermostats at 78 degrees when at home, use their blinds and disconnect devices that are not being used. SCE customers can also access rebates, programs and other energy-saving tools at energy-saving tips. More information on this Flex Alert issued by the state is available at flexalert.org.
SCE customers can report or inquire about outages at 800-611-1911 and get the latest information using the outages app at sce.com/outages. You can also get information and updates by visiting: sce.com/staysafe, twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.
The electric power company reminds customers that if they see a downed power line, stay away and call SCE at 800-611-1911 or call 911.
To prepare for the Flex Alert, customers can take these steps before 4 p.m.:
- “Pre-cool” homes or lower air-conditioning thermostats.
- Charge electric vehicles.
- Charge mobile devices and laptops.
- Run dishwashers, washing machines and other major appliances.
- Set pool pumps to run in the early morning or late at night.
Here are some other ways customers can conserve energy:
- Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and to 85 degrees or “off” when you are away.
- Cook with a grill outside, or microwave, to keep your home cooler.
- Give your air conditioner a rest when you can and cool your home with open windows and fans.
- Shut off lights when leaving a room.
- Close your blinds to keep out the afternoon heat.
- Limit the opening and reopening of refrigerators, which are major users of electricity in many homes.
- Plug home electronics into power strips and turn off power strips when equipment is not in use.
- Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they are not in use.
- Give your dryer a break and hang-dry your clothes.
- When possible, businesses should shift power-intensive work to morning or late evening hours.
