State’s Grid Operator Calls ‘Flex Alert’ for Thursday Afternoon and Evening
September 30 2020 - 9:28PM
Business Wire
Triple-Digit Temperatures Will Tax the Grid so
PG&E, Other Utilities Asking Customers to Cut Energy Use
Between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.
With triple-digit heat forecast for Thursday, Oct. 1, the
state’s grid operator is calling for afternoon and evening energy
conservation as one way to make sure that the supply of power stays
ahead of demand.
The Flex Alert, called by the California Independent System
Operator (CAISO), has been issued for Thursday from 3 p.m. to 10
p.m. With high temperatures in the forecast, the grid operator is
predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air
conditioning use. Reduced capacity, along with fire activity and
heat, has led to a potential shortage of energy supply tomorrow
evening, CAISO says.
Here are five ways PG&E customers can cut their power use
and help keep the lights (and air conditioning) on for
everyone:
- When it’s cooler outside, bring the cool air in: If the
outside air is cool in the night or early morning, open windows and
doors and use fans to cool your home.
- Close your shades: Sunlight passing through windows
heats your home and makes your air conditioner work harder. Block
this heat by keeping blinds or drapes closed on the sunny side of
your home.
- Cool down with a fan: Fans keep air circulating,
allowing you to raise the thermostat a few degrees and stay just as
comfortable while reducing your air-conditioning costs.
- Clear the area around your AC: Your air conditioning
unit will operate better if it has plenty of room to breathe. The
air conditioner's outdoor unit, the condenser, needs to be able to
circulate air without any interruption or obstruction. Also, dirty
air filters make your air conditioner work harder to circulate air.
By cleaning or replacing your filters monthly, you can improve
energy efficiency and reduce costs.
- Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health
permitting: Every degree you lower the thermostat means your
air conditioner must work even harder to keep your home cool.
PG&E’s meteorologists say that a high-pressure system
remains anchored over the state. Temperatures will reach into the
90s across the San Joaquin Valley and neighboring intermediate
valleys to the west. High pressure will begin to slightly weaken on
Friday, and temperatures will begin a cool-down for the
weekend.
Breezy north-northwest winds up to 30 mph are possible along the
coast and coastal gaps and peaks through the day Thursday and
Friday. PG&E does not project a need for a Public Safety Power
Shutoff due to this weather, but conditions will be continuously
monitored.
Customers can actively help by shifting energy use to morning
and nighttime hours. Conservation can lower demand and reduce the
duration of possible power interruptions. In August, when
California experienced its first rotating outages in two decades,
conservation limited the effects to two nights rather than three or
four. And, similarly, conservation over the very hot Labor Day
weekend prevented the need for rotating outages.
PG&E’s Demand Response programs offer incentives for
business owners and residential customers who curtail their energy
use during times of peak demand. PG&E has several of these
programs. About 261,000 PG&E customers are enrolled in one of
these Demand Response programs. PG&E’s website includes
detailed information on these programs, which allow residential
customers and business customers to save energy and money.
PG&E is prepared and, based on forecasts, doesn’t anticipate
any issues meeting the increased demand for power. At this point,
CAISO has given no indication that it will call for rotating
outages.
PG&E also urges customers to stay safe during this heat
wave. The company funds cooling centers throughout its service area
to help customers escape the heat and cool off. To find a center
near you click here or call 1-877-474-3266.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San
Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers
some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in
Northern and Central California. For more information, visit
www.pge.com/ and pge.com/news.
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