CA Flex Alert: Extreme Temps Mean Another Day Of Power Saving

LOS ANGELES, CA —A volatile combination of extreme weather and "explosive" wildfires continued to threaten the state's power grid Monday, prompting officials to issue another Flex Alert.

State regulators urged residents to conserve energy from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. to avoid rolling blackouts. Flex Alerts were also issued Friday and Saturday.

"Conservation is key to reducing stress on the grid during these peak hours," California's Independent System Operator said in a statement.

The alert comes as a record-breaking heat wave bore down on parts of the state Monday. On Sunday, Death Valley recorded the highest daily average temperature observed on the planet: 118.2 degrees, The Washington Post reported.

Mounting heat raised the possibility of rolling blackouts. In addition, the Bootleg fire in southern Oregon swelled to 240 square miles Monday and continued to threaten transmission lines used to power the state. The blaze knocked out three transmission lines Friday, and California's power supplies were reduced by 3,5000 megawatts on Monday as a result, the system operator said.

"Conditions deteriorated quickly as the Bootleg fire continued to grow and posed an imminent threat to transmission lines leading into the California Oregon Intertie," the system operator said on Saturday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also sounded the alarm over the weekend and signed an executive order to free additional power for the state.

Extreme weather was expected to bake parts of the state Monday, with excessive heat warnings in effect in many areas, the National Weather Service said.

"The [heat wave] will continue through Monday, with highs well into the 100's over interior areas," National Weather Service officials in Los Angeles said in a tweet Sunday. "In addition, elevated to brief fire conditions will affect the interior. Use caution!"

Flex Alerts were called in mid-June and in August and September of last year, prompting consumers to significantly reduce energy use, which greatly limited rotating power outages.

During A Flex Alert

• Set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if your health permits.
• Avoid using major appliances, such as dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights.

Consumers were also encouraged to use fans for cooling and to unplug unused electrical items.

In the hours before a Flex Alert takes effect, consumers were encouraged to take steps to help the state manage energy use later in the day.

Before A Flex Alert

• Pre-cool your home by lowering the thermostat.
• If you need to use your major appliances, do so earlier in the day, when solar energy is abundant.
• Close window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool.
• Take advantage of solar energy to charge electronic devices and electric vehicles so there's no need to do it later, when solar is not available.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

READ MORE: CA Swelter Shatters Temperature Records Across The State