California’s grid operator has called a statewide Flex Alert for Tuesday and Wednesday this week, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) urges its customers to conserve energy as triple-digit heat will impact much of the company’s service area.
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 24 and Wednesday, July 25. CAISO and PG&E are asking consumers to conserve electricity especially during the late afternoon when customers typically crank up their air conditioners.
CAISO says high temperatures across the western United States, forecasts of increased demand, the lack of additional generation, tight gas supplies and high-fire risk were the factors prompting the Flex Alert. PG&E meteorologists forecast that temperatures will reach near 110 degrees in the hottest locations in the Central Valley, driving up energy demand and especially air conditioner use.
PG&E said it is prepared and, based on forecasts, doesn’t anticipate any issues meeting the increased demand for power. CAISO forecasts customer demand for energy will reach 48,179 megawatts (MW) on Tuesday. Peak load in the 20-year history of CAISO is 50,270 MW on July 24, 2006.
PG&E also urges customers to stay safe during the 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 call 1-877-474-3266.
PG&E has 425,000 residential and business customers enrolled in five Demand Response programs and collectively have the ability to reduce their consumption at a level that would prevent the need to utilize a gas-fired power plant.
Small behavioral changes also can make a big difference in reducing demand on the power grid during periods of extreme heat and help customers save money all summer long.
Set your air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees or higher when you’re at home, health permitting, and 85 degrees when you’re away. Setting your AC thermostat 5 degrees higher will save about 10 percent on cooling costs. If you turn your ceiling fan on when using the air conditioner, you can raise your thermostat about 4°F to save energy with no reduction in comfort.
Shut windows and draw the shades to keep in pre-cooled air from the night and early morning. Have your central cooling duct system checked for leaks. Up to 20 percent of cooled air can be lost through leaky or poorly insulated ducts. Avoid using an electric oven on hot days. Instead, cook on the stove, use a microwave oven or grill outside.
Finally, buy an ENERGY STAR® air conditioner if your air conditioner is ready to be replaced. It can reduce energy usage by up to 10 percent. For more tips on how to save this summer, visit http://www.pge.com/summer.
— Deanna Contreras, PG&E
