Southern California Edison (SCE), the electricity service provider for residents and businesses in the city of San Gabriel, has warned customers that outages are possible this summer and the rest of the year based on a high demand on the grid. To avoid these outages, the company is asking locals to conserve as much as possible.
A rotating outage is a "temporary and controlled electric outage that lasts approximately one hour, depending on the circumstances." According to SCE, these outages become necessary when the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) declares a power grid emergency due to high demand on the system. These outages could be more likely this year because the SoCal Gas Aliso Canyon facility, which is a major source of natural gas used to power electrical plants, has restricted operations after a recent gas leak.
To conserve electricity, SCE gives the following tips:
-Set your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher.
-Keep windows and doors closed during the heat of the day to prevent the loss of cooled air.
-Tilt blinds up and close drapes and shades on windows that receive direct sunlight.
-Run a ceiling fan while your air conditioner is on (when you’re at home), which will allow you to raise your thermostat about 4 degrees while experiencing the same level of comfort.
-Postpone using major appliances like dishwashers and washer/dryers.
-Minimize how often you open your refrigerator or freezer.
-Cook with your grill or microwave to keep your home cooler.
-Close your blinds to keep out the afternoon heat.
-Turn off unnecessary lights.
-On hot afternoons, consider leaving home, adjusting your thermostat to 85 degrees or higher, and going someplace cool like the pool or the library.
On days when the electricity grid is under stress, the state agency CAISO may also call for a Flex Alert, which means users will be asked to voluntarily conserve during peak hours to avoid having to have an outage.
SCE also offers some additional incentives and programs to help customers conserve electricity, such as rebates. Find more information at www.sce.com.
To find out more information about SCE outages and how you might be affected, call 1-800-611-1911 or visit www.sce.com/outage. You can find your outage group number on the top of your electricity bill.