Flex Alert for second day as ‘energy deficiency’ forecast. Conservation needed as California heats up

As California braces for dangerously high temperatures from a heat dome building up across the West, managers of the state’s electricity grid Wednesday issued the first of what is likely a series of Flex Alerts through Labor Day, urging Californians to reduce power consumption.

The Independent System Operator said the first alert would take effect from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday in an effort “to avoid power disruptions.” A second alert was issued for Thursday as well, for the same time period.

The grid operator also issued an “energy emergency alert watch notice” for Wednesday evening, a call to power generators to make additional supplies available. The ISO said it “is forecasting an energy deficiency.”

The Flex Alert is a voluntary call for conservation with temperatures soaring. The late afternoon and early evening hours are particularly dicey because solar power fades but the weather is still scorching hot.

The ISO asked Californians to set thermostats to 78 degrees, avoid using heavy appliances and delay charging their electric vehicles during the five-hour stretch.

California suffered through two nights of rolling blackouts in August 2020 and barely avoided more blackouts during a July 2021 heat wave. The risk of further blackouts remains high during terrible heat waves as the state struggles to shore up grid reliability.

This story was originally published August 31, 2022 at 12:15 PM.