LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – While rolling blackouts didn’t materialize on Monday as officials had warned, officials are urging Lake County residents to be prepared as outages could still occur this week.
Local officials reported that Pacific Gas and Electric had indicated rotating power outages were anticipated to happen between 5 and 10 p.m. on Monday, similar to outages that other parts of the state have experienced over the weekend.
However, shortly before 9 p.m. the company said the blackouts weren’t needed based on forecasts at that time for electricity supply and demand.
On Monday, the California Independent Systems Operator, which oversees the state’s power grid, has called a Flex Alert for voluntary conservation through Wednesday due to excessive heat driving up electricity use and putting strain on the grid.
Later in the day, California ISO declared a statewide Stage 2 Emergency. As a result, PG&E said customers in portions of 42 counties – including Lake – were notified on Monday via automated calls about the potential outages.
California ISO canceled the emergency at 7:30 p.m., saying the rotating power outages were not necessary thanks to reduced demand due to consumer conservation and cooler than expected weather, with demand coming in lower than forecast.
Lake County’s weather was considerably cooler than originally forecast on Monday, with thunderstorms with small amounts of rain occurring throughout the day.
The National Weather Service has placed Lake County under a heat advisory through 8 p.m. Tuesday, with temperatures expected to be well over the century mark.
Officials are continuing to urge conservation measures through Thursday because of continuing high temperatures, although the Lake County forecast shows that temperatures could remain around 100 degrees through the weekend and into early next week.
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Rolling blackouts remain a possibility as heatwave continues
- Elizabeth Larson
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