Flex Alert Declared After Heatwave Taxes Power Supply

LOS ANGELES, CA - Hot weather will cause electricity supplies to tighten in Southern California on Monday, and residents should implement "Flex Alert" procedures starting at 10 a.m., officials urged today.

A "Flex Alert" was called for 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday by the California Independent System Operator (Cal-ISO), the state agency that matches private and public electricity generating resources to the amount of demand.

A Flex-Alert is a request for voluntary electric conservation measures, including consumers turning off in unnecessary lighting, postponing the use of major appliances like hot tubs, washing machines and dryers, and setting air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees or higher.

The statewide electric supply system will be stressed to provide the 45.3 billion watts of electricity that is projected to be sucked up by customers, the state agency said in a news release issued at midafternoon today.

Cal-ISO and other state agencies have warned that heat waves this summer may draw more power than can be generated, due to supply imbalances of natural gas.

The Southern California Company's giant underground natural gas storage facility at Porter Ranch was taken off line due to massive leaks. That means natural gas-fired electrical generators in the Southland may not have enough fuel to generate the electricity needed to meet demand, state officials said.

— City News Service, photo via Shutterstock