With California’s power grid under strain due to extreme heat and high demand, the utility grid operator is asking residents to avoid charging their electric vehicles (EVs). This comes days after the state announced a plan to ban the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035.
Californians may need to take measures to conserve energy, including by avoiding charging EVs, to prevent strain to the state’s power grid over the Labor Day weekend, officials said. In a news release, the California Independent System Operator said it expects that it will issue calls for voluntary conservation of electricity through Flex alerts over the long weekend.
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“During a Flex Alert, consumers are urged to reduce energy use from 4-9 p.m. when the system is most stressed because demand for electricity remains high and there is less solar energy available,” the release said.
The top conservation actions are to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher to reduce air conditioner use, avoid using large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turn off unnecessary lights, it said. “Lowering electricity use during that time will ease strain on the system, and prevent more drastic measures, including rotating power outages,” it added.
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