the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) has commissioned San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to initiate widespread rotary failures amid extreme heat waves that drive down energy consumption.
The outages, which affect hundreds of circus blocks in San Diego County, mark the third day this week Cal ISO has ordered rotating outages across the state.
The outages could affect nearly 100,000 SDG & E customers with a power outage of about an hour, the utility said.
To find out if you are affected, look up your circus block number on your SDG & E account and look for the number on this card.
The operator of the California independent system had previously declared a Flex Alert, urging residents in the father to save between 3 and 10 hours of electricity so as not to overload the electrical system. The Flex Alert will remain in effect until Wednesday.
But if energy consumption is not included, Cal ISO can declare a Stage 3 emergency company and direct utility companies to start rotating outages in California.
“While a stage emergency is a significant disaster for those affected by rotating power outages, it is preferable to manage an emergency with controlled measures, instead of letting it spread and cause more longing,” Cal ISO said.
SDG & E said to prevent future rotated outages, energy savings are “urgently needed.”
“Energy saving remains essential to help avoid the need for rotating stops, such as the duration of outages and the number of customers affected. “Everyone is encouraged to do their part to cut back on energy consumption at this critical time,” the agency said.
The Cal ISO offers a series of tips for conserving power, including:
- Turn off unnecessary lights
- With large appliances use before 3pm and after 10am
- Setting climate thermostats to 78 degrees or higher
- Using fans and keeping drapes drawn
- Reduce the use of pool pumps
SDG & E also advises residents to have flashlights and batteries ready. Those who rely on electrical or battery-dependent medical technologies, such as search engine, machine wheelchairs / scooters, and oxygen or dialysis at home, should be ready to activate their emergency plan.
More tips for saving energy can be found on the FlexAlert website.
SDG & E was instructed to close power to customers both on Friday and Saturday. While an order was expected on Sunday, it was never announced.
Customers previously affected by outages could experience another strike on Monday, SDG&E said.
The last time a Phase 3 Emergency was declared in California was during the 2001 energy crisis.
Gavin Newsom of California on Monday criticized Cal ISO for not planning for energy shortages amid the heat wave. In a letter, he demanded that the energy blackouts be investigated.
But the president of Cal ISO said she “indicated in the submission after submission that the resource adequacy program was broken and that it should be regulated.”
San Diego County and the majority of the state were sitting in the middle of a brutal heat wave that sent temperatures down to triple digits. Too much heat warning that passed Monday was extended to Thursday in San Diego County.
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