Flex Alert In Place Wednesday For the Coachella Valley

With above-normal temperatures forecast for much of California and the West, the manager of the state’s power grid issued a statewide Flex Alert that will take effect Wednesday afternoon, calling for voluntary electricity conservation.

According to the California Independent System Operator, the Flex Alert will be in effect from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday “due to predicted high energy demand and tight supplies on the power grid.”

“The power grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use,” ISO said in a news release Tuesday. “The increased demand can make electricity supplies tight and strain the power grid, making conservation essential.”

During the Flex Alert time period, consumers are asked to lower their thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits, and take other voluntary measures, including avoiding the use of major appliances and unnecessary lights.

To take full advantage of all available supply, the ISO has also issued a restricted maintenance operation for noon to 9 p.m. Wednesday, notifying ISO participants to avoid taking grid assets offline for routine maintenance until the RMO is lifted.

“Conserving electricity during the late afternoon and early evening is crucial because that is when the grid is most stressed due to higher demand and declining solar energy production,” ISO said. “In the past, reducing energy use during a Flex Alert has helped operators keep the power grid stable during tight supply conditions and prevented further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.”