Media Contact: Susan Cox (626) 302-2255
ROSEMEAD, Calif., Sept. 15, 2014 – As severe heat continues this week, Southern California Edison (SCE) is making a strong appeal to its customers to conserve energy as the forecasted heat wave has resulted in utility-equipment failure and additional power outages.
The National Weather Service predicts a heat wave for both Los Angeles and Orange counties through the middle of this week, with temperatures in the mid-90s. The valleys are expected to experience temperatures in the low 100s.
In response to the severe heat wave, SCE has opened its Emergency Activation Center in Irwindale, which is expected to stay open for the next few days. The center operates as a centralized coordination point of communications that monitors outages, responds to trouble spots and checks weather patterns.
In addition, SCE has taken steps to ensure that crews are available to immediately respond to outages.
Priority restoration service is being given to customers who have been without electrical service the longest. Also, some maintenance outages have been canceled today so that crews and additional resources can be deployed to priority sites over the next two days.
“We anticipate having an adequate supply of electricity,” said Paul Grigaux, SCE’s vice president of Transmission, Substations and Operations. “However, with more energy likely being used in the evenings, especially air conditioning, the extra demand can strain SCE’s equipment when it’s not given the opportunity to cool off.”
In fact, the California Independent System Operator believes electricity consumption during the heat wave could exceed the summer’s previous peak of 44,200 megawatts on July 30.
SCE’s year-to-date peak consumption is 20,323 megawatts on May 15. SCE’s all-time weekday peak is 23,303 megawatts on Aug. 31, 2007.
As temperatures climb, SCE urges customers to conserve by reducing their electricity use between noon-6 p.m. — the hours of peak energy use — to lessen strains on power supplies and the possibility of outages.
Some tips to conserve energy include:
- Using electric fans instead of air conditioning when practical.
- Turning off unused appliances and equipment.
- Setting air conditioning thermostats to 78 degrees or higher.
- Avoiding operating energy-intensive appliances late morning through the evening hours.
- Limiting how often you open your refrigerator door.
For more energy-conserving tips and programs, including the Save Power Day program, visit: on.sce.com/tips.
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.