LOS ANGELES, June 11 (Xinhua) -- A non-profit grid operator in California issued a statewide alert Tuesday calling for voluntary electricity conservation.
According to a press release by the Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO), a non-profit independent grid operator serving California, energy demand will reach a peak of 42,800 MW at nightfall, almost topping the available capacity of 43,023 MW. A heat wave continues to spread in the state, and two units with a total generation of 1,260 MW are offline due to mechanical failures, it said.
Tuesday's peak of energy consumption appeared at 5:23 p.m. (0023 GMT Wednesday) with 42,739 MW, the ISO's official website showed.
The corporation earlier in the day also issued a Restricted Maintenance Operations (RMO), which requires generators and transmission owners to postpone a scheduled maintenance, to keep grid assets available for use.
A Flex Alert is typically issued in the summer when extremely hot weather pushes up energy demand reaching available capacity. This usually happens in the evening hours when solar generation heads offline and consumers are returning home and switching on air conditioners, lights, and appliances.
During Flex Alert period, consumers are urged to conserve electricity by measures including setting thermostat at 78 degree Fahrenheit (25.5 degree Centigrade) or higher, cooling with fans and draw drapes, turning off unnecessary lights and appliances, and using major appliances in morning or late evening.
The ISO serves about 80 percent of California's electricity consumers and a small portion of Nevada.
