State's Ongoing Heat Wave Prompts New Call To Cutback On Energy
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) - With more hot temperatures expected Tuesday, a statewide Flex Alert is in effect, and residents are being urged to cut back on energy use during peak daytime hours, a California Independent System Operator spokeswoman said.
The ISO, which manages the state's power grid, said the alert would be in place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., spokeswoman Erin Johnson said. A Flex Alert was also in effect on Friday.
The alert is a call for residents to shift energy consumption to later in the day, when there is less demand on the power grid.
Temperatures are expected to drop in the next few days, with a cool-down coming by Thursday.
CBS 5 WeatherCenter: Current Conditions & Forecast
Until the heat subsides, residents are being advised to turn off unnecessary lighting. In hot areas where air conditioners are used, people are advised to set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher—or shut off air conditioners altogether and use fans instead.
Other conservation tips include keeping refrigerators full and unplugging unused appliances. Residents with pool pumps should set them to run overnight instead of during the daytime.
Speaking from an office in Folsom, Johnson said temperatures are expected to reach more than 105 degrees in the Sacramento area.
In the Bay Area, inland areas are expected to reach the high 90s and into triple digits Tuesday.
Johnson said that after Friday's energy alert was issued, an estimated 1,000 megawatts was conserved statewide, which she said is equivalent to the output of two large power plants.
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