Cal ISO issues Flex Alert for Friday due to expected heat, electricity demand
FOLSOM, Calif. (KION) The California Independent System Operator announced that it has issued a statewide Flex Alert for Friday due to expected high temperatures and high energy demand.
The Flex Alert will be in effect from 4 to 9 p.m. on Friday, and during that time, the agency is asking Californians to conserve electricity to reduce strain on the power grid while demand for energy is high.
During the Flex Alert, Cal ISO is encouraging Californians to:
- Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher if health permits
- Avoid using major appliances
- Turn off all unnecessary lights
Ahead of the alert, Cal ISO recommends:
- Precooling your home by lowering the thermostat
- Using major appliances earlier in the day
- Closing window coverings
- Charging electronics
If demand for energy exceeds supply, Cal ISO could order utilities, such as PG&E, to implement rotating power outages over short periods of time.
The agency said that Californians significantly reduced their energy use when Flex Alerts were issued last month and last summer, and that prevented or limited the number of outages.
