Flex Alert Issued In Northridge-Chatsworth

NORTHRIDGE-CHATSWORTH, CA — The state of California has issued a Flex Alert, calling on residents to voluntarily cut their power use amid a blistering heat wave.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages the state’s power grid, announced Wednesday that a Flex Alert will be in effect from 5 to 10 pm Thursday.

The Flex Alert is a call for voluntary energy conservation, asking residents to cut their power usage to avoid the risk of outages.

Cal-ISO said Wednesday that it would have enough supplies to last through Thursday, but urged residents to “remain vigilant” should demand increase and threaten the availability of power reserves, which often happens during heat waves as everyone cranks up their air conditioning all day and night.

The ISO recommends setting the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, avoiding use of major appliances, turning off unnecessary lights, using fans to cool homes, and unplugging unused items.

Conservation during evening hours is especially important, the ISO said, because solar production is down, but power usage can be high.

“We will be relying on Californians to be partners in protecting grid reliability in this heat event and throughout the summer, when needed,” the ISO said Wednesday.

In Northridge and Chatsworth, temperatures reached 102 degrees Wednesday, 103 Thursday, and are expected to remain in the upper 90s throughout the week, and sporadic blackouts have been occurring around town since the beginning of the week.

Five Flex Alerts were issued in 2020, in comparison to one in 2019 and two in 2018, according to ISO data.

Residents can also conserve power by heading to nearby air-conditioned cooling centers:

• San Fernando Recreation Park, 208 Park Ave., San Fernando; open until 7 p.m.; open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day
• San Fernando Library, 217 N. Maclay Ave., San Fernando; open until 8 p.m., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. the rest of the week
• Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St., Santa Clarita; open until 8 p.m., open 10 a.m.-6p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Stevenson Ranch Library, 25950 The Old Road, Stevenson Ranch; open until 8 p.m., open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday
• Bridge To Home, 23031 Drayton St., Santa Clarita; open until 5 p.m., open Monday-Thursday 12 p.m.-5 p.m., Friday 12 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
• Santa Clarita Public Library Valencia Library, 23743 W. Valencia Blvd., Santa Clarita; open until 8 p.m., open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center, 18601 Soledad Canyon, Santa Clarita; open until 8 p.m., open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
• Westlake Village Library, 31220 W. Oak Crest Dr., Westlake Village; open until 8 p.m., open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday-Friday
• OneGeneration Senior Enrichment Center, 18255 Victory Blvd., Reseda, open until 5 p.m., open Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

See the County website for a full list of sites.