Ahead of an intense heat wave that is expected to drive up electricity demand, California’s grid operator has sent a pair of notices to help maximize available power supply and transmission capacity.
The California Independent System Operator has issued “restricted maintenance operations” directives calling on utilities and other entities that participate in energy markets in Southern California to postpone routine equipment maintenance and keep all their grid assets online.
Each directive is in place from 10 a.m. through 10 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
The orders do not apply to the general public and thus far the system operator has not issued a Flex Alert — a request for consumers across the state to voluntarily conserve electricity whenever there is a predicted shortage of energy supply.
“We are not forecasting any supply shortfalls at this time but wanted to prepare consumers in the event that we need to call a Flex Alert,” the system operator said in a social media post. “We will continue to monitor forecasted demand and supply conditions and will provide additional updates as necessary.”
The system operator, also known as the CAISO, manages the high-voltage and long-distance transmission system for about 80% of the state and a small part of Nevada.
A prolonged heat wave is expected to send temperatures soaring across the San Diego area starting Friday.
The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning in San Diego County, effective Friday morning and running through Oct. 8.
“Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures ranging from the mid-80s to lower 90s near the coast to the mid-90s to around 100 for the mesas and other higher coastal terrain expected,” the weather service said. “Nights will be very warm with low temperatures mostly in the lower to mid-70s.”
The high-pressure pattern is forecast to send temperatures across Southern California anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees higher than normal.
Extended periods of hot weather put strain on the state’s power grid, as homes and businesses crank up their air conditioners, which drives up electricity demand. Higher-than-average temperatures in the evening hours only adds to the pressure.
However, the power system handled last month’s heat wave without any issues and according to the CAISO’s daily outlook page on its website Thursday morning, there was 62,184 megawatts of grid capacity to handle 41,035 megawatts of forecasted peak on Friday.
San Diego Gas & Electric said looming weather conditions could affect power lines that serve local communities, adding that public safety power shutoffs are a possibility. SDG&E officials noted a particular period of concern — from 5 a.m. Friday through 6 p.m. on Tuesday.
A public safety power shutoff refers to utilities turning off the electricity in strategic areas when weather conditions are dry and extremely windy to avoid the chance of downed power lines igniting a wildfire.