Flex Alert Issued - Calling for Statewide Conservation
Consumers should prepare for the likelihood of rotating electric outages
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has issued a statewide Flex Alert, a call for voluntary electricity conservation, through Wednesday, August 19. The Flex Alerts are in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. each day.
A persistent, record-breaking heatwave in California and the western states is causing a strain on supplies, and consumers should be prepared for likely rolling outages during the late afternoons and early evenings through Wednesday.
Consumers can actively help by shifting energy use to morning and nighttime hours and conserving as much energy as possible during the late afternoon and evening hours. Consumer conservation can help lower demand and avoid further actions including outages and lessen the duration of an outage.
Consumers are urged to lower energy use during the most critical time of the day, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., when temperatures remain high and solar production is falling due to the sun setting.
The CAISO recognizes that reducing energy use during the hot time of the day is a hardship, especially for those working from home or with children schooling at home. However, if many consumers do their part in small ways, conservation can make a difference.
Between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m., the CAISO is urging consumers to:
- Set air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees, if health permits.
- Defer use of major appliances.
- Turn off unnecessary lights.
- Unplug unused electrical devices.
- Close blinds and drapes.
- Use fans when possible.
- Limit time the refrigerator door is open.
Consumers can also take steps to prepare for the Flex Alert by doing the following BEFORE 3 p.m.:
- “Pre-cool” their homes or lower air conditioning thermostats to 72 degrees.
- Charge electric vehicles.
- Charge mobile devices and laptops.
- Run dishwashers, washing machines, and other major appliances.
- Set pool pumps to run in the early morning or late at night.
For information on Flex Alerts, and to get more electricity conservation tips, visit the ISO’s Flex Alert website.
SCE Outages
CAISO rotating outages (Stage 3 CAISO Emergencies) become necessary when the state’s electricity reserves have fallen below 1.5% in real time or are unavoidable. CAISO will typically order the state’s investor-owned utilities, including SCE, to reduce the electrical load by turning off service immediately.
A rotating outage typically lasts one hour. SCE rotates the outage across groups of customers throughout the service territory to protect the integrity of the electric system, while limiting the inconvenience to any one customer or community.
Customers can find their SCE Rotating Outage Group Number in one of these ways:
- You can log in to My Account on sce.com
- If you get a paper bill each month, you can find your Rotating Outage Group printed on the front.
- You can call 1-800-611-1911.
Customers can report or inquire about SCE outages at sce.com/outages and visiting sce.com/staysafe, twitter.com/sce and facebook.com/sce.
Stay Cool at the Beaumont Civic Center
The City of Beaumont will open a temporary Cool Center at the Beaumont Civic Center, located at 550 E. 6th Street, for residents to escape the heat. Members of the public are welcome to visit the Civic Center Monday, August 17 – Friday, August 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Attendees are required to wear a face mask and complete a temperature check before entering the building. Public health protocols will be in place, including social distancing and increased sanitization. For additional Cool Center locations, hours, and tips on how to protect yourself from heat-related illnesses, please visit www.capriverside.org.
Safety tips during extreme heat:
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water regularly, even if you do not feel thirsty. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
- Limit your exposure to the sun, if possible. If you must be outside, be sure to wear a hat, use sunscreen, and dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible.
- Use a buddy system when working in extreme heat and remember to take frequent breaks. Try to avoid strenuous work during the hottest part of the day.
- Check on elderly family, friends, and neighbors who live alone or do not have air conditioning to make sure they’re safe.
- Never leave children or pets in enclosed vehicles, even with the windows "cracked" or open.
For questions regarding the Cool Center, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (951) 769-8524.
Cool Centers serve as drop-in sites for vulnerable individuals, seniors, the disabled, and others in need of temporary relief from the heat. Cool Centers will open to the public when the Riverside County Department of Public Health issues a Heat Warning.