Rolling Blackouts Possible Across SoCal

The high temperatures expected across the state today — and delivering 90 degrees in downtown Santa Barbara mid-morning on Monday — has the state’s electricity manager requesting voluntary conservation measures today from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Consumers are asked to turn off unnecessary lights, use appliances after 9 p.m., and set air conditioners to 78 degrees or higher. The Flex Alert does not include the use of electricity necessary for “health, safety, or welfare,” emphasized Steven Greenlee, a spokesperson with the California Independent System Operation (ISO). “Critical infrastructure is not included, hospitals, for instance,” he added in explaining what would be included in any rolling blackout.

The ISO forecaster expects a high of 109 degrees in areas of the state. If demand begins to create bottlenecks on the transmission system, Greenlee said, ISO would rotate temporary power outages to blocks of consumers to keep the system operating. One concern for ISO is the limited availability of the natural gas customarily supplied to Los Angeles power generators from Aliso Canyon. Another hot day is expected Tuesday, but ISO has not yet determined whether voluntary conservation will be needed. Consumers can sign up to receive power conservation notifications at flexalert.org.