Amid Heat Wave, Riverside County Bracing For Rolling Blackouts

CORONA, CA — More than 16,000 Southern California Edison customers in Corona were without power Tuesday amid a sweltering heat wave that has prompted local officials to issue a health advisory.

The outage was reported as the outdoor afternoon temperature hovered at the 100-degree mark.

At 3 p.m., the utility said the outage was due to equipment problems and an estimated time for power restoration was unknown.

With extreme heat expected to break temperature records and linger over much of California and the West for the remainder of the week, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) is asking consumers to be prepared to conserve energy to help avoid the possibility of rotating power outages.

Those steps include:

• Setting thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits
• Avoiding use of major appliances
• Turning off unnecessary lights

If the ISO issues a Flex Alert calling for voluntary conservation between the hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and possibly Thursday, consumers would be encouraged to take other steps to manage their electricity usage to maintain comfort prior to an Alert taking effect. Consumers can:

—Pre-cool your home or apartment by lowering the thermostat
—Use major appliances, like your dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer
—Close window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool
—Charge electronic devices
—Charge electric vehicles

An abnormally strong ridge of heat is forecast to bring temperatures as high as 115 degrees to the California interior that could last until the weekend. Because of the extreme heat and nighttime lows expected to cool off only between 78 and 83 degrees, the state’s electric grid will be straining to meet evening demand when air conditioners are in heavy use and solar energy generation is waning.

The ISO’s own projections currently show electricity demand exceeding power supplies several days this week. The biggest deficit is projected for Thursday between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

If the demand becomes too great, rotating outages (Stage 3 CAISO Emergencies) would be necessary, according to providers.

To stay current with forecasted supply and demand conditions, and monitor grid alerts, warnings, and emergencies, visit the ISO’s Today’s Outlook at www.caiso.com, or download the free ISO Today mobile app.

And you can sign up for Flex Alerts and find other conservation tips at flexalert.org.

SCE reminded customers they should be prepared in case of power outages. Learn more here.

Related:

• Riverside County Health Officials Issue Heat Wave Warning
• Heat Advisory For Pets, What Southland Pet Owners Need To Know
• Cool Centers Open To Riverside County Residents This Summer
• Power Outage Amid Heat Wave, Imperial Irrigation District Warns