Flex Alert: SLO County residents asked to cut energy use as heat wave stresses power grid
San Luis Obispo County residents are being asked to reduce their electricity use this evening after the California Independent System Operator issued a statewide Flex Alert.
The alert is for 4 to 9 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday due to “excessive heat and high energy demand.”
People across California are being asked to reduce their energy use during that time to help protect grid reliability as a major heat wave hits much of the state.
The high temperatures push up energy demand and tighten available power supplies, according to an ISO news release.
“With excessive heat in the forecast across much of the state and Western U.S., the grid operator is expecting high electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand,” read the release.
Additional calls to conserve are also likely through the Labor Day weekend as the high temperatures — which meteorologists have called “the most significant heat wave of the season so far” — are expected to linger through to mid next week.
How to conserve power during Flex Alert
During a Flex Alert, consumers are urged to conserve power in a number of ways. Those include setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoiding using major appliances and turning off unnecessary lights.
People are also asked to avoid charging electric vehicles while a Flex Alert is in effect, according to the release.
Reducing energy use during a Flex Alert can help stabilize the power grid and prevent emergency measures such as rotating power outages.
This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 4:03 PM.
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