…now they’re called “Energy Flex Alerts”:
(LA Times) – Electricity flex alert lifted for weekend, but conservation urged [Updated]
The energy flex alert ordered for this weekend has been shortened by the California Independent System Operator, although the agency is still asking customers to conserve energy.
The grid operator originally called a flex alert that would run from Friday through Sunday because of extreme heat and plant outages that have put a strain on the system. The alert remains in place for Friday but has been lifted for Saturday and Sunday.
During the alert, customers are asked to scale back energy use during the peak hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., setting thermostats at 78 degrees or higher, turning off unnecessary lights and appliances, and restricting use of major appliances to the morning and late evening.
[Updated at 11:38 a.m.: California ISO spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle said the statewide alert was called off for the weekend because temperatures had been slightly lower than predicted on Thursday. Peak demand for Thursday had been projected as high as 47,125 megawatts, but the actual peak use was 45,325 megawatts. McCorkle attributed the difference to about 900 megawatts in conservation and lower than forecast temperatures in Southern CA, especially along the coast.]
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Funny, I was just writing about how increasing demand, reduced supply, and an aging, overloaded grid structure was an electrical disaster in the making… OK, not funny – rather scary, in fact. Oddly enough, I was just in the Silicon Valley area earlier this week and it was quite mild…so this “heat wave” is rather localized to southern California, yet it is causing issues which may result in Rolling Blackouts…oops, sorry, now we call them “Flex Alerts” – same problem, different branding.
WE HAVE BEEN WARNED
LT
~Those who abuse Liberty, do so at their own peril!
[…] When the lights go out, and there is violence in the streets, I pray that you will haveprepared yourself mentally, and have the equipment and materials that you will need to survive. Most of all, be wary of all that you hear, and much of what you yourself witness, and be not rash in your responses, because the enemies of Liberty mean to draw us into an ambush. […]