Flex alert

California ISO Preparing You for the Heatwave




June 17, 2016

The ISO is preparing for state heat wave to ensure grid reliability Flex Alert for voluntary electricity conservation likely to be issued next week

With record-setting heat expected in Southern California early next week, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) is preparing for potential stress on the electricity system and may issue a Flex Alert asking consumers to conserve energy to help prevent rotating power outages.

Electricity demand is expected to rise during the unseasonable heat wave on Monday and Tuesday, June 20 and 21, with forecasted system-wide energy use expected to exceed 46,000 megawatts. That total is slightly lower than the system peak demand last year of 47,358 megawatts. The all-time record peak of 50,270 megawatts was set in July 2006.

"We are confident we have a strong plan in place to meet the operational challenges posed by the upcoming hot temperatures," said ISO CEO and President Steve Berberich. "Conservation efforts by consumers are key to reducing stress on the system and to help avoid service disruptions."

The ISO is working with Southern California Gas Company, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, utilities, and the state's energy agencies to mitigate any potential reliability issues related to the limited operations of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility. The coordination and planning underway is critical to averting or minimizing power outages. Click here to view the ISO's Aliso Canyon Summer Preparedness Plan.
If conditions don't ease, the ISO is prepared to issue a Flex Alert for Southern California for Monday, calling on consumers to conserve energy. Another Flex Alert calling for statewide conservation may be necessary on Tuesday, as triple-digit temperatures are expected in many areas of the state.

Flex Alerts urge consumers to turn off all unnecessary lights, use major appliances only after 9 p.m., and set air conditioners to 78 degrees or higher. Consumers taking these steps can help prevent more serious power grid emergencies, including electricity outages.

Notifications that a Flex Alert has been called will be sent via the ISO's mobile app "ISO Today," posted to www.flexalert.org, the ISO's website at www.caiso.com; on Twitter @California_ISO; and on Facebook.


Click here to find out more about Flex Alert and to sign up for email and text notifications.


When a Flex Alert is called take three simple actions:


• Set thermostat at 78° or higher and turn off, if away

• Cool with fans and draw drapes

• Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances

• Use major appliances in morning or late evening


Flex Alerts

The California ISO issues a Flex Alert when the grid is under stress to meet demand from generation or transmission outages, or from persistent hot temperatures.


Flex Alerts call for voluntary conservation before the ISO needs to start using energy reserves to maintain reliability. Conservation helps ease demand to avoid taking further steps to balance supply and demand, such as, in the extreme, local power interruptions.

Learn more: flexalert.org

Learn about Stage Electrical Emergencies: caiso.com/Documents/EmergencyFactSheet.pdf

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Flex Alert in Effect for July 2, 2013

Remember, we're on day two of a Northern California only Flex alert.  What does that mean?  Well, it means that the projected need for energy may exceed the amount available, so please do what you can to conserve at your home and business, especially between the hours of 12:00-7:00 p.m.

So, you're at the office and you're wondering what can you do to make any kind of difference? Let's start with the easy stuff:

  1. Turn off any unnecessary lights.  Does you office or common area have more than one light switch?  Try using only one.  If you're really hardcore about your conservation turn them all off and use a small desk lamp with a CFL or LED bulb like I do. Do you think that the bathroom or break room lights really need to be on when no one is in there?  Of course not!  Do everyone a favor and turn them off.  
  2. Give your computer a break!  I hope to God you don't spend your lunch sitting in front of your computer screen and if you do, STOP IT!  Now that that's out of the way--when you leave for lunch turn your monitor off.  Simple, right? You can also enable power saving modes on your computer to turn off the screen or go to sleep when not in use.  Like when your boss unexpectedly calls you into his office for a quick hour long chat.  
  3. Unplug and let go!  How many non-critical machines are currently plugged in at your office?  That letter folder in the corner that gets used once a month but always plugged in?  Unplug it. The toaster over that one lady from HR uses every other month? Unplug it.  The cell phone, tablet, blue tooth chargers that aren't actually charging anything?  Unplug them. Unplug them all!  Even machines at rest and inactive chargers steal electricity (for the most intellectual explanation of this effect please check out my friends, Carl and Eddy).  
The three tips listed above are all things you can easily do that will help lighten the load for California, and it means that this guy won't have to worry about losing power and melting into a puddle on the kitchen floor...

Dutch the St Bernard keeping cool in his summer cut! 

FLEX ALERT ISSUED JULY 1 TO JULY 2

From flexalert.com 


California-ISONorthern California - ONLY
Flex Alert issued by California ISO as heat wave intensifies
With hot temperatures bearing down on Northern California and with a major generation unit off line, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) is issuing a Flex Alert for Northern California Only on July 1, 2013, through July 2, 2013. No Flex Alert is issued for Southern California as temperatures moderate but watch for updates on www.caiso.com. Consumers are encouraged to reduce their energy use during the late afternoon when air conditioners drive consumption to the highest point of the day. Go to www.flexalert.org or www.caiso.com for conservation tips.
24-hours ahead: Northern California ONLY Flex Alert Day! on July 1, 2013. High temperatures are forecast throughout the state and region. Energy demand is expected to be high and Californians are asked to avoid using heavy electrical appliances until after 6 p.m. tonight.
Monday's forecast peak demand: 48,300 MW around 4:30 p.m.
48-hours ahead: Northern California ONLY Flex Alert Day! on July 2, 2013
Tuesday's forecast peak demand: 47,808 MW around 4:30 p.m.
72-hours ahead: July 3, 2013 No Flex Alert Day
Please monitor the California ISO website at www.caiso.com for updated information about the electricity supply. Track grid conditions in real time via Today's Outlook also available on smart phones. Go to your app store for a free download.
This advisory is based on the best data available at the time of its release. Grid conditions can change rapidly and are subject to change without warning. This forecast is accepted by the recipient on the condition that errors, omissions and/or changes to the contents shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause of action against the California ISO.
Funded by the investor-owned utilities and authorized by the CA Public Utilities Commission, Flex Alerts are part of an educational and emergency alert program that informs consumers about how and when to conserve electricity.

FLEX ALERT for August 14, 2012


FLEX ALERT! The California Independent SystemOperator—or as I like to think of them, the magic elves that ensure our electric grid keeps running—has issued a Flex Alert for today, August 14th.  

In a Flex Alert we are asked to conserve power to make sure that there is enough to keep the AC on (screw the lights, all I care about in 109 is the AC!).  And, from someone who was without power from 5pm-1am on Friday I can say it’s not what you want to experience! So, what can you do at the office and at home?

Well, thanks to our friends at Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Company we have plenty of no cost ways to conserve: 

NO-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT WORK from SCE Energy Tips for Home and Office, R-647-V1-0910

Office Equipment

  • Turn off your screen savers. There is a common misconception that screen savers reduce a monitors energy use; they do not. Today’s screen savers actually waste power by keeping your computer active.
  • Configure your computer’s sleep mode to turn off your monitor after 10 minutes and your hard disks after 20 minutes.
  • Insure that coffee pots, radios or other equipment have been switched off when not in use.
  • At the end of the work day, turn off all equipment every night — especially monitors and printers. Monitors usually consume twice the electricity as CPUs.

Office Lighting

  • Turn off lights at your workstation and utilize the natural light coming from your office or building windows.
  • Use only the lights you need. Switch off lighting that is unnecessary.
  • Always turn off lights in unoccupied rooms or areas that are not used as frequently during work hours, such as conference rooms or break rooms.
  • Many areas may be overlit. Use multi-switching to turn off a portion of the lights, if possible.

Office Miscellaneous

  • Wear layered clothing so you can adjust to temperatures and stay comfortable.
  • Print two-sided whenever possible.

NO-COST WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT HOME

  • Set thermostat at 78 or turn off, if away
  • Cool with fans & draw drapes
  • Turn off unnecessary lights and appliances
  • Use major appliances in morning or late evening
 Thank you for doing your part to conserve energy!