State declares Flex Alert through Wednesday as heat wave brings threat of rolling blackouts
The state issued a new Flex Alert on Sunday calling for electricity conservation over the next four days of an expected heat wave.
The state issued a new Flex Alert on Sunday calling for electricity conservation over the next four days of an expected heat wave.
The California ISO issued the Flex Alert for 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day from Sunday through Wednesday. The Flex Alert is a call for Californians to save power as a record-breaking heat wave lingers in the state. It also means that consumers should be prepared for rolling blackouts during the late afternoons and early evenings.
Conservation is needed because of power demands primarily from more air conditioning and other equipment in use to keep cool. It remains in effect as the sun goes down because solar power production decreases even as the heat remains into the evening.
The ISO asks Californians:
The heat wave was expected to last several days, with triple digit temperatures throughout the region.
But the heat didn't entirely stop people from enjoying the outdoors.
In Old Town Pasadena, for example, diners were still eating at restaurants even though they were forced to sit outside in the heat because of COVID-19 protocols.
Jack Huang, owner of the Pasadena restaurant Sorriso, said even though the heat was keeping business down it was better than the recent past when restaurants were closed altogether because of the pandemic.
"I see it about half full," Huang said. "Not like before. "It was maybe 70, 80% full during the daytime. But this is wonderful still for us."
