EXPLAINS WHAT THAT MEANS
FOR CUSTOMERS.
>> IT IS LIKE THREE
HOURS.
MY HUSBAND WAS OUT OF
TOWN.
THAT WAS NOT TOO BAD.
EMILY: LINDA THOMPSON
LOST POWER DURING ONE OF
LAST MONTH'S ROLLING
BLACKOUTS AND KNOWS HOW
EFFECTIVE POWER SAVING
EFFORTS CAN BE.
>> WE WERE ON ALERT TO
GET SHUT DOWN THREE DAYS
IN A ROW.
WE DID NOT GET SHUT
DOWN, BUT WE WERE ON
ALERT.
EMILY: LAST MONTH, CAL
ISO ORDERED UTILITY
COMPANIES TO POWER DOWN
THE GRID FOR THREE
NIGHTS OF ROLLING
BLACKOUTS WHEN THE
DEMAND ON THE GRID COULD
NOT MATCH THE STATE'S
POWER SUPPLY.
WITH WEEKEND
TEMPERATURES FORECASTED
TO BE HOTTER THAN
AVERAGE AND PEOPLE
EXPECTED TO USE AIR
CONDITIONING NONSTOP,
THE STATE'S GRID
OPERATOR IS ISSUING A
FLEX ALERT, ASKING
CUSTOMERS TO VOLUNTARILY
USE LESS ELECTRICITY.
>> CONSERVATION REALLY
IS THE BEST WAY WE CAN
HELP OUT WHEN THESE FLEX
ALERTS ARE CALLED BY CAL
ISO.
EMILY: PG&E SAYS
CUSTOMERS CAN LESSEN THE
BURDEN ON THE GRID BY
SETTING THE THERMOSTAT
AT 78 DEGREES OR HIGHER,
TURNING OFF LIGHTS WHEN
NOT IN THE ROOM, AND
USING FAN AND AIR
CONDITIONING AT THE SAME
TIME.
>> IT ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE
YOUR AIR CONDITIONER
ABOUT FOUR DEGREES
HIGHER AND YOU WON'T
NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE IF
YOU ARE ALSO USING FANS.
DEFINITELY DRAW THE
DRAPES, KEEP THE
CURTAINS CLOSED.
KEEP THE HOT AIR AND THE
HOT SUN OUT.
EMILY: NO ROLLING
BLACKOUTS ARE EXPECTED
THIS WEEKEND, BUT SOME
CUSTOMERS LIKE LINDA
THOMPSON ARE PREPARED IF
THINGS CHANGE.
>> WE DON'T OPEN THE
REFRIGERATOR OR THE
FREEZER.
I DON'T GET TO SEE THE
DODGERS PLAY.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT IS THE ONLY
DOWNSIDE TO THAT.
EMILY: CAL ISO SAYS
EQUIPMENT FAILURES OR
WILDFIRES CAN CHANGE THE
GAME, LEADING TO
POSSIBLE ROLLING
BLACKOUTS, MAKING IT
IMPORTANT FOR CUSTOMERS
TO S
