This week we will see rising temperatures on the central coast, including highs in the 100’s for Atascadero, Paso Robles and other inland areas. With this heatwave also comes a strain on the electrical grid for California as home owners switch on their air conditioning and fans and high power bills. the state’s power grid operator issued a so-called “flex alert,” urging consumers to conserve energy to help prevent rotating power outages – which could occur regardless.
Electricity demand is expected to rise during the unseasonable heatwave on Monday and Tuesday, with forecast system-wide use expected to top 45,000 megawatts, said the California Independent System Operator (ISO), which manages electricity flow through the state. That compares with a peak demand of 47,358 MW last year and the all-time high of 50,270 MW set in July 2006.
That could put stress on the power grid, particularly with the shut-in of Aliso Canyon, following a massive leak at the underground storage facility in October. The facility, in the San Fernando Valley, is the second largest storage field in the western United States, according to federal data, and therefore crucial for power generation.
All customers, including homes, hospitals, oil refineries and airports are at risk of losing power at some point this summer because a majority of electric generating stations in California use gas as their primary fuel. In April, millions of electric customers in Southern California were warned they could suffer power outages on up to 14 days this summer due to the closure.
You can protect yourself from rising electricity costs and help take a strain off the grid with a custom solar panel system from A.M. Sun Solar. We serve the entire central coast and our office is located in Atascdero. Get your free solar proposal today and start saving money with A.M. Sun Solar.
