Intense heat and call for power savings ahead on the Central Coast
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - One of the more prolonged heat waves of the year is set to bear down on Southern California and that will mean serious impacts on the South Coast.
The California Independent System Operator (ISO) has issued a
statewide Flex Alert, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. today. It is a call for voluntary electricity conservation.
Excessive heat is in the forecast with the NewsChannel First Alert weather maps showing 93 in Santa Barbara and over 100 in Ojai and Santa Ynez.
Temperatures are expected to be in the 80's and 90's for the next week.
This will increase energy demand mainly from air conditioning use.
Customers of Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric and other suppliers are asked to turn off extra lights and set their thermostats to 78 degrees.
Reduced energy use during a Flex Alert can prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.
While walking on Stearns Wharf a Los Angeles area teacher said she is aware of the possible over use of power. For her big appliances like washers and dryers, Karye Luppen says she will "try to do it in the morning and in the night or try not to be home if I can, to not run air conditioning at home."
A Camarillo resident, Gil Nussbaum says, "if it gets to be unbearable I put the AC on." He also pushes hot air out where he can saying, "I have a good ceiling fan in my attic to keep it cool."
Other issues now with the weather and the wearing of safety masks can be hot and uncomfortable.
Nussbaum says, for him, "it's harder to breath especially if you are doing exercise. I take it off when I am away from people so it is easier, when I get closer to where people are I wear a mask and I keep my six foot distance. "
Luppen says, "I'm a teacher too so I am trying to get used to it."
On a bike ride, Joe Hulsizer said he was wearing a mask often. "I'm doing it for the other people. I am more worried about them, I am not worried about my concerns." "Science says wear the mask, it is a good thing it is not that inconvenient wear the mask, please."
To learn more about energy use levels go to: California ISO Flex Alert
Watch tonight on KEYT NewsChannel 3, KCOY NewsChannel 12 and KKFX Fox 11.
(More details and video will be added here later today.)
