LOS ANGELES, CA — As temperatures soared into the triple digits across much of Los Angeles on Wednesday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is asking customers to conserve electricity through 8 p.m. to help reduce the risk of outages.
The request comes as extreme heat and unusually high humidity blanket the region, pushing temperatures to 102 degrees in downtown Los Angeles, 106 in Van Nuys and 87 degrees at Los Angeles International Airport.
"Conservation by customers in LA's Westside communities is especially requested as temperatures remain unusually high in the area," DWP said in a release.
Conservation can reduce the strain on local electrical equipment and help prevent outages, according to DWP. The utility said it is also monitoring power supplies and electricity flows across the city and is using all available generation to meet demand.
The National Weather Service has warned that the heat wave is expected to peak Wednesday and Thursday, with temperatures reaching as high as 108 degrees in some parts of the region.
Humidity associated with remnants of Hurricane Marie has added to what forecasters described as "oppressive" conditions. Extreme heat warnings are in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday across much of Los Angeles County.
Little overnight relief is expected, with lows forecast to remain in the 70s and lower 80s in some areas, according to the National Weather Service.
LADWP is asking customers to set thermostats to 78 degrees when possible and reduce electricity use from the afternoon to 8 p.m., when energy use is at its highest.
The utility also recommends delaying use of washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners and other major appliances until early morning or later in the evening; closing curtains, shades and blinds against direct sunlight; turning off unused lights and electronics; and unplugging devices that continue drawing electricity when not in use.
People can also spend time at a cooling center to reduce their reliance on home air conditioning, DWP said.
The request comes after past heat waves have caused widespread electricity disruptions in Los Angeles and elsewhere in California.
During a prolonged September 2024 heat wave, over 130,000 DWP customers lost power for a period before electricity was restored, ABC 7 reported at the time.
LADWP officials said extreme heat can cause electrical equipment to overheat, particularly when high overnight temperatures prevent equipment from cooling down, according to the station.
Those outages were different from the controlled rolling blackouts California experienced during an August 2020 heat wave.
That year, the California Independent System Operator ordered the state's first rolling blackouts since the 2001 energy crisis after soaring demand overwhelmed available electricity supplies, the Sacramento Bee reported.
Tens of thousands of households initially lost power as grid operators deliberately reduced electricity demand.
No rolling blackouts have been announced in connection with Wednesday's conservation request.
LADWP said crews are prepared to respond if outages occur. Customers who lose power can report the outage by calling 1-800-DIAL-DWP.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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