Heat stressing California’s power grid

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Scorching temperatures across California created a near-record demand for electricity Wednesday, drawing down the state’s energy reserves and prompting officials to urge residents to restrict their use of appliances.

With Californians seeking relief via air conditioners, pools and sprinklers, the state’s electricity grid manager declared a Stage 1 emergency, the first of three steps preceding rolling blackouts, in which power is cut to certain regions to avoid a systemwide crash.


“We’re tapping our operating reserves and we are stepping up our calls for conservation, but we are still a long way from a Stage 3 alert and blackouts,” said Stephanie McCorkle, a spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator.

For a second straight day, energy demand surged 1,000 megawatts above forecasts, according to the independent system operator. If that trend continues Thursday, California would set a new all-time record for energy demand and come close to using all the available electricity resources that are forecast for the state.

AP