SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC

Cal ISO Briefly Initiates Stage 3 Emergency Rotating Outages

SDG&E said it was in contact with the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO), which issued an electrical grid warning earlier in the day

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After the California Independent System Operator (Cal ISO) ordered San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) to begin rotating hour-long outages for a second day in a row, power was restored soon thereafter.

At around 6:46 p.m. Saturday, SDG&E tweeted out that due to excessive heat and high energy demand, Cal ISO ordered them to begin rotating outages. At around 6:55 p.m. SDG&E posted another update saying power was fully restored to all customers who were impacted by the outage.

To find out if you'll be affected by future rotating outages, click here.

The outages briefly impacted customers in areas like Rancho PeΓ±asquitos, San Pasqual, Del Mar, Torrey Pines, and Mira Mesa.

SDG&E said those impacted by Friday's outage were not impacted Saturday.

"The California Independent System Operator (ISO) declared a Stage 3 Electrical Emergency at 6:28 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, due to increased electricity demand, the unexpected loss of a 470-megawatt (MW) power plant, and loss of nearly 1,000 MW of wind power. The load was ordered back online 20 minutes later at 6:48 p.m., as wind resources increased," Cal ISO explained in a release.

Cal ISO declared a Stage 3 Emergency Friday and directed utility companies to initiate rotating outages throughout California.

That led SDG&E to cut power to roughly 58,700 customers to cope with increased demand brought about by the heat wave, which is expected to last into next week.

The rolling outages began at 6:40 p.m. Friday and ended shortly after 8 p.m., SDG&E said. The statewide emergency was lifted shortly before 10 p.m., and power was restored.

"Although a Stage Emergency is a significant inconvenience to those affected by rotating power interruptions, it is preferable to manage an emergency with controlled measures rather than let it cause widespread and more prolonged disruption," Cal ISO said.

Cal ISO issued its first Flex Alert of the summer on Friday urging residents to conserve energy as a heat wave sweeps across much of the state.

Flex Alerts are issued when the electricity grid is overtaxed due to high temperatures, Cal ISO said. It is a voluntary call on residents to conserve electricity when demand is at its peak.

The Cal ISO offered a series of tips to conserve power, including:

  • Turning off unnecessary lights
  • Using major appliances before 3 p.m. and after 10 p.m.
  • Setting air conditioner thermostats to 78 degrees or higher
  • Using fans
  • Keeping drapes drawn

More energy-saving tips can be found on the FlexAlert website.

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