Will California's power grid survive the recent heat wave?

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — As temperatures rise, so does the strain on the state's power grid. With that comes concerns about blackouts or power outages.

As heat waves continue to hit Southern California, is there a risk that residents will receive Flex alerts due to overloading of the power grid?

“Several consecutive days of extreme heat and above-average nighttime temperatures can cause power outages because electrical equipment cannot cool down sufficiently between periods of heavy use,” said Reggie Kumar, spokesman for Southern California Edison.

Severe heatwave hits Southern California: What to expect

Southern California Edison is urging citizens to help ease the strain on the power grid by saving energy during peak demand between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

So far, there appears to be no danger of residents sitting in the dark, says Edison.

“This time our system is working well and we are seeing the fruits of all the work done over the past few years in replacing equipment, modernizing and strengthening the power grid,” Kumar said.

Given the extreme heat, Southern California Edison recommends:

– Avoid charging electric vehicles

– Avoid the use of large equipment

– Charge phones and laptops during off-peak hours

– Set the thermostat to 78 degrees when you are at home and 85 degrees when you are away