Californians are urged to save energy for the eighth straight day as the state’s grid operator expects continued strain on the energy grid on Wednesday. The California Independent System Operator, or Cal ISO, said the alert will last from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Leer en españolThe state is at risk of power outages after Cal ISO declared an “Energy Emergency Alert 2” for Wednesday. It’s a few steps above a Flex Alert, and residents are strongly urged to reduce their energy use in hot weather. The next stage is an “Energy Emergency Alert 3”, which means that the demand for energy exceeds the supply. When it reaches this point, the network manager can order rotating stops at any time. The previous seven Flex Alerts were issued to avoid power outages due to increased strain on the power grid as more people use electricity to cool off amid record heat. As expected, Cal ISO has issued a Flex Alert for Thursday as it is expected to be another day well above 100 degrees in most parts of Northern California. An energy watch alert was also issued, which is a step above a Flex alert in terms of severity, but a few steps below the alert issued on Tuesday which almost led to rolling blackouts. | Video below | CA ISO gives an update on the electric grid after Tuesday’s record heat Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to temporarily boost the state’s energy supply. However, thousands of people were left without power on Tuesday when temperatures hit record highs. In 2020, several factors, including high temperatures and a wildfire in Oregon, resulted in several days of power outages for millions of Californians. | Video below | ‘Significantly stressed’: Cal ISO says electricity demand as high as summer 2017, expects it to increaseHow long will the heat last? The heat is expected to continue through Friday. The KCRA 3 weather team calls Wednesday to Friday the heat impact days with highs forecast in the 108-111 range in the valley. This means people need to plan around the afternoon heat, especially students with extracurricular activities. (Click below for 7-day forecasts, plus.) released a search map that allows customers to search and see if their home would be affected. Click here to search by address. Click here to search by address. Monitor statewide power outages You can also track outages across California with this map below which uses data from the California Office of Emergency Services. App users, click here. The California network operator said miscommunication led to power outages. cause much larger bearing failures. Confusion arose Tuesday afternoon between several Northern California utilities and the California Independent System Operator as the grid was dangerously close to running out of power amid record temperatures, said Elliot Mainzer, president and chief from Cal-ISO management. “That certainly concerns me,” Mainzer said, adding that he was reviewing what happened and how many customers were affected. “A lot happened on the grid for everyone last night. And so we’re going to double down on communication to make sure it doesn’t happen again. The previous record of 50,270 megawatts was set on July 24, 2006. Here’s how find NorCal cooling centers Learn more | Here are the cooling centers that will open on Thursday amid the triple-digit forecast at NorCalFollow our KCRA weather team on social mediaChief Meteorologist Mark Finan on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Tamara Berg on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Melanie Hunter on Facebook and TwitterMeteorologist Eileen Javora on FacebookMeteorologist Dirk Verdoorn on FacebookMeteorologist Heather Waldman on Facebook | MORE LIKE THIS | California heatwave: What you need to know about heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstrokeWatch our forecasts on TV or onlineHere’s where to find our latest forecasts video ions. You can also watch a live stream of our latest newsletter here. The banner on our website turns red when we are live. We also stream on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV. Here’s where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about Labor Day weekend heat records
Californians are urged to save energy for the eighth straight day as the state’s grid operator expects continued strain on the energy grid on Wednesday. The California Independent System Operator, or Cal ISO, said the alert will last from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The state is at risk of power outages after Cal ISO declared an “Energy Emergency Alert 2” on Wednesday. It’s a few steps above a Flex Alert, and residents are strongly urged to reduce their energy use in hot weather. The next stage is an “Energy Emergency Alert 3”, which means that the demand for energy exceeds the supply. When it reaches this point, the network manager can order rotating stops at any time.
The previous seven Flex Alerts were issued to avoid power outages due to increased pressure on the power grid as more people use electricity to cool off despite record heat.
As expected, Cal ISO has issued a Flex Alert for Thursday as it is expected to be another day well above 100 degrees in most parts of Northern California. An energy watch alert was also issued, which is a step above a Flex alert in terms of severity, but a few steps below the alert issued on Tuesday which almost led to rolling blackouts.
| Video below | CA ISO provides power grid update after Tuesday’s record heat
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Here’s what you can do to save power during a flexible alert
- Set the thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits
- Avoid using major appliances
- Turn off unnecessary lights
- Use fans for cooling
- Unplug unused items
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to temporarily increase the state’s energy supply.
So far this week, no planned outages have been reported related to excessive power consumption. However, thousands of people were left without power on Tuesday when temperatures hit record highs. In 2020, multiple factors, including high temperatures and a wildfire in Oregon, resulted in several days of power outages for millions of Californians.
| Video below | ‘Significantly stressed’: Cal ISO says electricity demand as high as summer 2017, expects it to rise
How long will the heat last?
The heat is expected to continue through Friday.
The KCRA 3 weather team calls Wednesday to Friday the heat impact days with highs forecast in the 108-111 range in the valley. This means that people should plan for the heat in the afternoon, especially students with extracurricular activities.
(Click below for 7-day forecasts, plus.)
How to Check PG&E Rotating Pans Across California
In the event of rotating blackouts, the utility has released a search map that allows customers to search and see if their home would be affected. Click here to search by address.
How to find the SMUD map of rotating failures
The Sacramento Municipal District is also preparing for possible outages. Click here to search by addresss.
Monitor statewide power outages
You can also track outages across California with this map below which uses data from the California Office of Emergency Services. App users, click here.
California grid operator says miscommunication led to power outages
Miscommunication led utilities to mistakenly shut off power to customers in several California cities during an unprecedented demand for energy supplies, the state’s power grid operators admitted on Wednesday while warning that continued extreme heat could lead to much larger bearing failures.
Confusion arose Tuesday afternoon between several Northern California utilities and California’s independent system operator as the grid came dangerously close to running out of power amid record high temperatures, Elliot Mainzer said, President and CEO of Cal-ISO.
“That certainly concerns me,” Mainzer said, adding that he was reviewing what happened and how many customers were affected. “A lot happened on the grid for everyone last night. And so we’re going to double down on communication to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
With record power demand across the West, California hit its all-time high for power consumption around 5 p.m. with 52,061 megawatts, well above the previous record of 50,270 megawatts set on July 24, 2006.
Here’s how to find NorCal Cooling Centers
Northern California cooling centers are open to allow some residents to take a break from the forecast week of triple-digit heat.
| Learn more | Here are the cooling centers opening Thursday amid triple-digit forecast at NorCal
Follow our KCRA weather team on social media
| MORE LIKE THIS | California heat wave: What you need to know about heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Watch our forecast on TV or online
Here is where to find our latest video forecast. You can also watch a livestream of our latest newscast here. The banner on our website turns red when we are live.
We also broadcast on the Very Local app for Roku, Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV.
Here’s where you can download our app for the latest weather alerts.
| VIDEO BELOW | What to know about Labor Day weekend heat records