SCE Urges Continued Energy Conservation

UPDATED, July 27

The heat is still on in Southern California, prompting Southern California Edison officials to call for continued energy conservation.

“Public conservation efforts to date make a big difference in the electric system’s performance during this period of high temperatures,” said SCE Incident Commander Bob Sholler. “Customers’ continued efforts to reduce power usage will help reduce stress on the system.”

Air conditioning is the No. 1 driver of energy use. Customers can help with energy conservation by setting their thermostats no lower than 78 degrees. When practical, substitute fans for air conditioning.

Peak energy demand is 5-9 p.m., so customers are asked to pay particular attention to their power use as they transition from work to home.

Crews continue to be distributed throughout SCE’s service area to respond to outages and equipment issues and to restore power as quickly and safely as possible. Priority restoration is being given to customers who have been without power the longest.

SCE Fire Management is on scene at the Cranston Fire in Idyllwild and is working closely with local fire agencies to monitor the situation. There are approximately 200 customers without power in the area due to the Cranston Fire. The remaining customers without power are located in the Mountain Center area of Idyllwild. SCE does not have an estimated time for restoration of power to those customers, however, crews will be working the next several days to replace equipment that was destroyed or damaged by the Cranston Fire.

In other parts of the territory, SCE is reviewing maintenance outages on a case-by-case basis. Some maintenance outages have been postponed during the heat wave. Others may proceed when they are necessary to protect public safety and prevent potentially more dangerous or longer emergency outages.

SCE understands the inconvenience for customers when the power is out during extreme heat and appreciates their patience while repairs are made to restore power.

Customers may report or inquire about outages at 800-611-1911. Get the latest information using the SCE outages app at sce.com/outages. Stay informed by visiting sce.com/staysafe, twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.

SCE’s No. 1 priority is to protect public safety as well as the integrity of the system. See these tips to beat the heat.

Other ways to conserve:

Turn off unused appliances and equipment.
Shut off lights when leaving a room.
Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.
Avoid using evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner is running.
Operate swimming pool equipment and energy-intensive appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, during early-morning and late-evening hours.
Limit the opening and reopening of refrigerators, which are major users of electricity in most homes.

Safety tips during a heat wave:

Cool Centers provide safe, air-conditioned facilities during heat waves. Input your zip code to see which facilities are in your area.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
Limit your exposure to the sun, if possible. If you must be outside, be sure to wear a hat, use sunscreen and dress in loose-fitting, lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and remember to take frequent breaks. Try to avoid strenuous work during the hottest part of the day.
Check on elderly family, friends and neighbors who live alone or do not have air conditioning to make sure they’re safe.
Never leave children or pets in enclosed vehicles, even with the windows "cracked" or open.