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   From: leroysoetoro@kaga.com   
      
   https://deadline.com/2020/08/california-the-largest-power-outages-in-its-   
   history-this-week-1203015664/   
      
   As California struggles to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, wilting   
   heat and wildfires, it’s facing another dangerous crisis: blackouts.   
      
   As temperatures broke records across the state, California energy   
   officials announced the first rolling blackouts in the state since 2001   
   and warned that the state was bracing for what could be the largest power   
   outage it has ever seen, likely on Monday.   
      
   In an effort to prevent or limit power outages during this heat wave, the   
   California #ISO issued a statewide #FlexAlert for today – Wednesday, Aug.   
   19, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Learn more: https://t.co/U5yYGRfQjT   
   pic.twitter.com/mJCmqLPHnq   
      
   — California ISO (@California_ISO) August 17, 2020   
      
   When asked about the number of Californians who will be impacted and how   
   it ranks historically, the President/CEO of the Independent Service   
   Operator — the non-profit that operates the state’s power grid — said he   
   wasn’t entirely sure.   
      
   “I can’t speak to historical comparisons,” said Steve Berberich. “I wasn’t   
   here during the energy crisis.”   
      
   When pressed by a reporter who had run the numbers and estimated that 3.3   
   million Californians will be impacted, Berberich assented that his   
   calculations were “Probably fairly accurate.”   
      
   In 2001, the San Jose Murcury News estimates power outages impacted 1.5   
   million people. Given that number, 3.3 million people without power would   
   be at least twice as large.   
      
   ISO officials said they were shutting down power to residents to prevent   
   events of an even greater magnitude.   
      
   “We avoid demand exceeding supply to ensure there’s not a widespread   
   system collapse,” said ISO Market Policy and Performance VP Mark   
   Rothleder.   
      
   On Monday, officials said they expect blackouts to begin about 4 p.m. and   
   extend through at least 10 p.m. in 2 hour blocks for each affected area.   
      
   A big problem is a shortage of power that could be imported from utilities   
   in neighboring states. California has been able to bridge the gaps in   
   previous heat waves because it could bring in power. This time, though,   
   “we are facing diminished imports because the West is heating up,” said   
   Berberich.   
      
   Governor Gavin Newsom said the state was using “all the tools in the tool   
   kit” to meet demand. “We are likely to fall short,” he said, as oppressive   
   temperatures stress the state’s energy system that serves five million   
   households and businesses.   
      
   The National Weather Service warned of potentially record-breaking heat in   
   the L.A. area on Monday and Tuesday.   
      
   Very hot temperatures are forecast across #SoCal the next couple of days.   
   Numerous records could be broken Monday and Tuesday. #CAwx #LAHeat   
   #Heatwave pic.twitter.com/yAHizp5CxJ   
      
   — NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) August 17, 2020   
      
   Newsom noted that temperatures in Death Valley reached 130 degrees Sunday,   
   a peak not hit since at least 1931, according to the National Weather   
   Service. As a point of reference, the hottest temperature ever officially   
   recorded on earth was 134 degrees, also in Death Valley, in 1913.   
      
   Newsom added that “rather extraordinary weather conditions” also have put   
   firefighters under enormous pressure as they battle wildfires across the   
   state.   
      
   Newsom pointed to the state’s shift to renewable resources as part of the   
   reason for the supply shortage. Shutting down polluting gas power plants   
   has created gaps in the state’s energy supply, he said.   
      
   While the state remains committed to a greener future, Newsom said, “We   
   cannot sacrifice reliability” and promised that officials would be “much   
   more aggressive … in making sure that is the case.”   
      
   Big power users are being allowed to shift to backup sources and stored   
   energy that is typically restricted as state officials work to urgently   
   deploy more resources systemwide, according to the governor.   
      
   A statewide Flex Alert calling for residents to voluntarily conserve   
   electricity remains in effect through Wednesday. Officials are also urging   
   businesses statewide to restrict their usage. In some cases, the state is   
   asking business owners to support outreach to their customers about   
   conserving energy. Newsom named Telsa, a major manufacturer of electric   
   vehicles, as one of the businesses working closely with the state.   
      
   The California ISO issued the Flex Alert on Sunday, saying there is   
   insufficient energy to meet high consumer demand during the record-   
   breaking heat wave. To minimize the need for controlled outages, residents   
   were asked to use air conditioning early in the day and set   
   thermostats at 78 in the afternoon and evening hours, while avoiding the   
   use of major appliances between the hours of 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.   
      
   The alert followed blackouts Friday and Saturday that Newsom said came   
   without warning.   
      
   The Governor yesterday convened an all-hands meeting with California   
   Independent System Operator (CAISO), the California Public Utilities   
   Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California   
   Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and senior   
   administration officials and called the weekend service disruptions   
   “unacceptable.”   
      
   Newsom announced Monday that he had signed an emergency proclamation to   
   free up energy capacity.   
      
   The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power said Friday’s rolling   
   blackouts did not affect residents of the city. “We own our own power   
   plants and transmission lines and had enough supply to meet demand + req’d   
   reserve,” the department tweeted. “We encourage our customers to conserve   
   to help state grid and reduce strain on system.”   
      
   We can all do our part to conserve energy and help prevent service   
   interruptions during California's heatwave. ??   
      
   Between 3-10pm:   
   ??? Set your A/C at 78° or higher   
   ?? Avoid major appliance use   
   ?? Turn off unnecessary lights   
      
   Pre-cool your home at 72° overnight & in the morning.   
   pic.twitter.com/zxiHxNdky9   
      
   — Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) August 17, 2020   
      
   On Saturday, high temperatures increased electricity demand while one   
   power plant was down and wind power fell short, prompting a Stage 3   
   Electrical Emergency that lasted 20 minutes. It was called at 6:28 p.m.,   
   making rolling outages imminent or in progress, according to the   
   California ISO.   
      
   No major outages were reported Monday by Southern California Edison, but   
   peak power demand would likely trigger outages later in the day.   
      
   In a letter, the governor said the blackouts were called Friday and   
   Saturday without notice and demanded an investigation.   
      
   “Residents, communities and other governmental organizations did not   
   receive sufficient warning that these de-energizations could occur.   
      
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