Flex Alerts called for Thursday and Friday, June 17 and 18

The first Flex Alert of the year on Thursday, June 17 was extended into Friday as ISO grid operators continue working to balance electricity supply and demand with help from consumers being asked to voluntarily conserve.

After the first Flex Alert was called Elliot Mainzer, ISO President and Chief Executive Officer, said it was issued “in a preponderance of caution” to enlist consumers to help keep the electric grid stable during extreme high temperatures that drive an increase in demand for power.

“We certainly know from experience, including last August and September, that Californians can make a huge difference in helping maintain overall grid stability by taking these very straight-forward and pragmatic steps to help conserve,” Mainzer said.

Extending the Flex Alert into Friday evening is another way to help reduce electricity demand as California and much of the Southwest deals with triple-digit heat and more stress on the electric grid.

To help balance supply and demand and avoid disruptions in service, consumers are asked during the Flex Alerts to:

• Set thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, if health permits
• Avoid using use major appliances
• Turn off all unnecessary lights

Consumers can also save electricity by using fans for cooling, unplugging unused electrical items, pre-cooking meals and other conservation steps that can be found at Flex Alert.org.

To be more comfortable during the Flex Alert hours, consumers are encouraged to take certain actions earlier in the day that include:

• Pre-cooling homes or apartments by lowering thermostats
• Using major appliances, like your dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer before the Alert takes effect
• Closing window coverings to keep your home or apartment cool
• Charging electronic devices
• Charging electric vehicles

“As we know, Californians have stepped up many times before when asked to pitch in, and I’m confident they will do so,” Mainzer added

The ISO had been focusing on 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. as the time conservation is usually most needed to reduce stress on the electric grid, but the precise time period always depends on hourly supply and demand forecasts. Thursday’s Flex Alert was issued from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. For Friday, the most crucial hours to conserve were determined to be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

With triple-digit heat forecasted for much of California and the Southwest today and tomorrow, grid operators determined a slight adjustment in the Flex Alert hours was needed.

The possibility of rotating outages is low, Mainzer told reporters, but conditions are always subject to change. The ISO will announce later today whether a Flex Alert is also needed on Friday.