Due to high heat and increased electricity demand, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) is declaring a Stage 3 Electrical Emergency and is initiating rotating power to maintain grid stability. Rotating outages help prevent larger and longer power outages.
The Stage 3 Emergency declaration was called after extreme heat drove up electricity demand across the state, causing the ISO to dip into its operating reserves for supply to cover demand.
The ISO is urging consumers to turn off unnecessary lights, use major appliances until after 10 p.m. These conservation measures can help the power grid during a time of tight demand and supply.
The California ISO is working closely with California utilities and neighboring power systems to manage the strain on the grid and to restore the power grid to full capacity. As portions of the grid are restored, local utilities will restore power in a coordinated fashion.
Although a Stage Emergency is a significant inconvenience to those affected by rotating power interruptions, it is preferable to manage an emergency with controlled measures rather than let it cause widespread and more prolonged disruption.
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat watches and warnings for portions of California and the Southwest U.S. California will be experiencing near-record or record-breaking heat, up to 10-20 degrees above normal in some areas. Above-normal temperatures for California are expected to last through the weekend and into late next week.
To learn more about the ISo’s system alerts, warnings, and emergencies, click here.
