CA power grid extends Flex Alert to Friday, asks for electricity conservation

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The manager of California's power grid declared a statewide Flex Alert for Thursday and Friday, asking residents and businesses to cut back on power usage to prevent strain on the system.

The California Independent System Operator is calling on Californians to save power between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. each day as a dangerous and record-breaking heat wave settles over the area.

Friday's Flex Alert will be the third day in a row Cal ISO has issued the alert. It was issued as Thursday's alert had just gone into effect.

Temperatures will climb into the triple-digits in many areas of the region through Labor Day, which means more people will be home trying to keep themselves and their homes cool.

"We're going to be experiencing a prolonged heat moment. We're going to have opportunity now in the next number of days to experience... what many have not experienced back to back.. and that's triple-digital weather," Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.

The manager of California's power grid has issued a statewide Flex Alert for Wednesday, asking residents and businesses to cut back on power usage to prevent strain on the system.

In a statement, Cal ISO said additional Flex Alerts are possible through the holiday weekend.

During a Flex Alert, Californians are urged to conserve power by setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, avoid using major appliances and charging electric vehicles and turn off unnecessary lights. Residents are also encouraged to pre-cool their homes before peak power use hours begin at 4 p.m.

"We talk about setting your thermostat to 78 degrees... that's not enough. It's important when you do that," said David Song with Southern California Edison. "So before 4 p.m., get that temperature in your home down to 68 degrees, 70 degrees, so that you have some momentum going into that five-hour period when we ask you to really curtail usage."

"At that point, turn off the AC or set it to a higher temperature like 78 degrees, and then it'll cycle less because you've pre-cooled your home beforehand," he added.