Hundreds of thousands in California ‘facing blackouts’ after record-breaking heatwave sees temps hit 112

HUNDREDS of thousands of Californians experienced rolling blackouts on Friday night as a record-breaking heatwave saw temperatures hit 112 degrees. Utility companies turned off power to as many as a quarter of a million people at a time in order to try to ease the strain on the grid. California ISO, the agency that monitors […]

HUNDREDS of thousands of Californians experienced rolling blackouts on Friday night as a record-breaking heatwave saw temperatures hit 112 degrees.

Utility companies turned off power to as many as a quarter of a million people at a time in order to try to ease the strain on the grid.

AP:Associated Press

A man lies on the beach in Santa Monica, California[/caption]

California ISO, the agency that monitors the state’s electricity needs and power grid capabilities, declared a State 3 emergency.

“The ISO is unable to meet minimum contingency reserve requirements, and load interruption is imminent or in progress,” the agency said.

The emergency was declared around 6.30pm on Friday and lifted by 11.15pm.

The ISO ordered rotating power outages across the state to relieve the strain on the grid, which at peak usage time – around 7pm – saw demand at 46,777 megawatts. The state has 48,242 megawatts of electricity.

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A Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) worker [/caption]

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High tension electrical power lines at a transfer station along Highway 58 are viewed near Buttonwillow, California[/caption]

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An air tanker drops retardant as the Lake Fire burns in the Angeles National Forest north of Santa Clarita[/caption]

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California’s wildfires have been accelerated by the heatwaves[/caption]

“Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has been directed by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to turn off power to approximately 200,000 to 250,000 customers at a time in rotating power outages given the strain on the power grid during the statewide heatwave,” PG&E said in a statement.

“Other power utilities in the state are being directed to take similar actions.”

The power outages last for about an hour for each rotation.

Californians were asked by the Office of Emergency Services to conserve energy.

The last time California saw rolling blackouts was in 2001, KCRA3 reported, when the state was considering deregulating the power grid.

The main areas impacted during Friday’s blackout were in Central and Northern California.

Officials asked residents to refrain from using major appliances between 3pm and 10pm.

“We’re going to experience record-breaking temperatures, as the case in any jurisdiction on the globe, that means we could all do well just to be thoughtful of our electricity and energy consumption,” Gov. Gavin Newsom warned Friday.

The grid manager, the California Independent System Operator, issued the emergency, “after extreme heat drove up electricity demand across California, causing the ISO to dip into its operating reserves for supply to cover demand,” the corporation said in a statement.

Friday’s blackouts may not be the last for Californians, either.

Weather forecasters say the heatwave is shaping up to be the worst the state has seen in years, with record-challenging temperatures set to last through Thursday.

“People really need to take it seriously,” said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. “Drink a lot of water. Find shade.”