Media Contact: Media Relations, (626) 302-2255

ROSEMEAD, Calif., June 28, 2013 — With high temperatures forecast throughout the weekend, Southern California Edison (SCE) is urging customers to conserve energy to reduce strain on the electrical system.

As of midday today, there were no major heat-related outages. But with very hot weather forecast for the next several days, outages are possible, and SCE has taken steps to prepare for them. Crews are ready to be deployed if outages occur.

SCE also reminds customers about the importance of safety around electrical equipment. If you see a downed or dangling power line, call 911. Don’t touch or approach the wire.

SCE anticipates having sufficient resources to meet electricity demand. But with energy use rising during extreme heat, conservation can provide an added reserve should an unexpected power emergency occur, such as mechanical problems at a major power plant or wildfires shutting down a major transmission system. Conservation also helps minimize the impact on the distribution system during high usage.

For example, the transformers you see on overhead power lines work like a radiator in your car. With air conditioning running around the clock because of high temperatures, the transformers don’t have an opportunity to cool down. Without the ability to cool down, like the radiator in your car, a transformer can fail and cause a power outage.

Other conservation tips include:

  • Give appliances the afternoon off; peak power usage on weekdays is usually between noon-6 p.m.
  • When practical at night, use electric fans and open windows instead of using air conditioning.
  • Set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees.
  • Close drapes and blinds to keep out direct sunlight during hot periods.
  • Avoid using evaporative coolers or humidifiers at the same time an air conditioner is running.
  • Operate swimming pool equipment and energy-intensive appliances, such as dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, during early morning and evening hours.
  • Limit the opening and reopening of refrigerators.
  • When possible, businesses should shift power-intensive work processes to morning or evening hours. 
  • Consider grilling outside or cooking with the microwave to keep your home cooler so your air conditioning doesn’t have to work as hard.
  • If traffic lights are out, treat each intersection like a four-way stop.
  • Sign up for Save Power Day Incentive Alerts. Customers can earn up to $100 a year in bill credits when they reduce energy usage between 2-6 p.m. when a save Power Day is called. Customers are urged to sign up for alerts, so we can notify them via email, phone, or text so they'll know when to reduce, and maximize the credits they can earn.

For more information, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and watch videos on how to save energy on our YouTube channel.

About Southern California Edison

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.