A "flex alert" was issued in California on June 30 as power demand continues to increase since heat wave affects much of the state. The alert, which went in effect on Tuesday through Wednesday, aims to urge residents to conserve electricity to reduce power grid stresses.
The flex alert, which calls for statewide electricity conservation between 2 and 9 p.m., was issued because the state's power grid is under stress due to elevated demand and transmission system outages, California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO) explained. According to Patch, the alert was a cause for action to encourage voluntary conservation of power so the state won't have to use its energy reserves.
"Consumers are urged to reduce their energy use during the late afternoon when air conditioners drive consumption to the highest point of the day," as stated by the alert.
As the organization predicted higher energy demand, Cal-ISO spokesman Oscar Hidalgo said conservation allows the group that manages the grid to provide power where it is needed most, KPBS has learned.
In line with the flex alert issuance that urges residents to voluntarily conserve electricity, power was fully restored to over 20,000 Silver Lake consumers on Wednesday. Los Angeles Times reported the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is conducting a probe on the cause of the power outage Tuesday night, which left many local residents without power until early Wednesday morning.
Despite the power restorations, California is still at risk for imminent power outages and disruptions due to too much stress on the state's power grid. The escalating power demands are also partly due to the heat wave or the higher temperatures and humidity that is currently gripping much of the state.
"I think this shows how quickly things can change," Hidalgo said. "I mean we're seeing temperatures in triple digits in many parts of California and not only that, we're seeing some as high as 112 or 114 degrees in some areas."
Meanwhile, the flex alert issuance came almost a week after California and its local officials predicted the state would have plenty of power this summer.
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