Statewide Flex Alert For California Extended Through Thursday

A statewide flex alert — a call for voluntary electricity conservation to help prevent blackouts from occurring — was issued Wednesday in California and will remain in effect through Thursday evening.

Under a flex alert, consumers are encouraged to conserve power during the peak usage times of 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., when air conditioners push power consumption to the highest point of the day, according to the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO), the issuer of the alert.

Power imports are limited through Thursday not only because of high temperatures in most of California, but in neighboring states, Cal-ISO officials stated in a news release.

"Electricity supplies statewide are predicted to continue to be tight due to high summer temperatures driving up demand, power plant outages and transmission line import capacity reductions," officials said. "Grid operators are monitoring conditions closely around the clock to ensure reliability."

Flex alerts also serve as an early warning from Cal-ISO of possible electricity outages to allow the public to better prepare for service interruptions.

Tips for conservation during a flex alert can be found online at Caiso.com.