Electricity demand throughout California once again is expected to surpass 50,000 megawatts Thursday, as a record-setting heat wave asserts itself one final time before relief begins to arrive.
And once again, Californians were being asked to do their own part to avoid rolling blackouts. A miscommunication on Tuesday left customers in several Bay Area cities without power, even before blackouts were officially called.
The state’s Independent System Operator issued a Flex Alert for the ninth consecutive day, this one from 3-10 p.m. The seven-hour alert is the longest during the heat wave and is two hours longer than the alerts issued Wednesday.
The expected power demand Thursday was projected to be 51,383 megawatts, according to the ISO. It was expected to reach 50,132 megawatts on Wednesday and was measured at 44,652 megawatts at 8:45 p.m., the ISO said.
A record 52,061 megawatts were used Tuesday.
The Flex Alert was not the only alert that was extended. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also issued a Spare the Air alert for the sixth consecutive day. Air-quality index figures indicate the air through areas of the region may be unhealthy for those with breathing issues.
Relief is expected to begin arriving Friday, when high temperatures begin to dip by 8 to 10 degrees and overnight temperatures also cool down. The National Weather Service said that by Saturday, high temperatures in the hottest spots of the region are expected to stay below 90.
Source: www.mercurynews.com