Solar Eclipse 2017: Californians Urged To Conserve Energy

Californians are being asked to conserve energy when the highly-anticipated solar eclipse darkens the skies on Monday.

The Golden State is the leading solar energy state in the country. In an effort to help reduce the strain on the state's solar power resources, the California Public Utilities Commission established CalEclipse.org, where Californians are urged to "do your thing for the sun," by reducing energy usage during the solar eclipse.

The eclipse is expected to occur from 9:02 a.m. to 11:54 a.m., with the moon obscuring 58 to 76 percent of solar rays, depending on the resource location, and causing a loss of 4,194 megawatts of California large-scale solar electricity, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.

Portions of the western United States will experience a total and partial solar eclipse. Northern California will see 76 percent of the sun blocked, while Southern California will see 62 percent of the sun blocked. As the solar eclipse passes over the Pacific Northwest, it will affect solar resources providing power to California's grid, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.

Although the solar eclipse will cast a shadow across the United States, the manager of the state's electricity grid, the California Independent System Operator, said it is prepared for the solar eclipse.

As solar power production declines during the eclipse, Cal-ISO forecasts it will need to dispatch about 6,000 megawatts of power from alternative sources. One megawatt of electricity powers about 1,000 homes.

"I am confident in the technology of our market and grid, and in the expertise and abilities of our staff to manage the operational challenges associated with the eclipse," Steve Berberich, president and CEO of Cal-ISO, said in a statement. "Our team is committed to keeping the power flowing for Californians, as we navigate the unusual circumstances presented by the eclipse."

Utility companies are also reassuring customers they are prepared for the solar eclipse. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news from your California neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app. Also, be sure to follow your local Patch on Facebook!)

In the Bay Area, Pacific Gas and Electric said customers should be unaffected by the drop in solar power generated by the solar eclipse. The utility company serves nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California, from Bakersfield to Eureka.

The company expects a potential drop-off of 2,600 megawatts of solar energy, nearly 20 percent of the 13,500 megawatts they anticipate customers to use during that timeframe.

"Solar eclipses are rare but we deal with the equivalent of a total eclipse every night when the sun goes down," Nick Stavropoulos, president and COO of PG&E, said in a statement. "Even with so much of California's energy now coming from solar, PG&E has a diverse supply of resources that allow us to meet customers' needs for safe and reliable energy around the clock."

In Southern California, San Diego Gas & Electric expects a potential drop-off of 500 megawatts of solar energy.

The utility company serves 3.6 million people in San Diego and southern Orange counties. On a typical summer day, approximately 840 megawatts of solar power is generated in the region.

"Power grid operators at SDG&E have spent months planning and preparing to ensure that enough energy is flowing through the electric grid to safely and reliably meet customer demand," SDG&E spokeswoman Allison Torres told Patch. "Predicting how the obstructed sun will interfere with solar production has added another level of complexity, but we want to reassure our customers that we have secured enough resources to meet their energy needs – even with significantly less solar generation on hand."

Although the state's grid operator and utility companies are prepared for the solar eclipse, the California Public Utilities Commission is still asking people, businesses, organizations and governments across California to join the "Do Your Thing For The Sun" campaign and help conserve energy.

"While our utilities and grid operator have all the tools necessary to manage the grid during the eclipse, what if millions of Californians stepped in to allow our hard-working sun to take a break, rather than relying on expensive and inefficient natural gas peaking power plants?" the website reads.

The pledge asks Californians to consider replacing light bulbs with LEDs, turning off lights, not charging electronics during the eclipse, unplugging appliances not in use, and turning up the thermostat by 2 to 5 degrees.

The Energy Providers of Southern California, a coalition of the Greater Los Angeles region's natural gas and electric utilities, is also urging customers to conserve energy during the eclipse through its "Conserve Energy SoCal" initiative. The program is focused on bringing Southern Californians together to conserve energy, save money and reduce the risk of natural gas and electricity shortages.

The coalition encouraged Californians to consider using these 10 tips to conserve energy at home:

1. Set your A/C to 78 degrees.
2. Reduce the temperature on your water heater.
3. Turn lights off when you leave the room.
4. Use power strips, and turn power strips off when equipment is not in use.
5. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher's drying cycle.
6. Take short showers instead of baths and use low-flow shower heads.
7. Only run full loads of clothes or dishes.
8. Wash clothes in cold water.
9. Keep windows and doors closed when cooling or heating your home.
10. Clean or change air filters.

Also see:

Sorry, California: Aug. 21, 2017, Total Solar Eclipse Will Only Be Partial In Golden State

5 Solar Eclipse Myths — Debunked

Solar Eclipse: Fleet Science Center In San Diego Offers Free Viewing Event

Solar Eclipse: Griffith Observatory Offers Free, Safe Viewing

Photo: NASA