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Tri-Valley residents were facing the seventh straight day of calls to conserve energy Thursday, as triple-digit temperatures and the threat of unexpected power outages lingered. An excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service remained in effect through 8 p.m.
The temperature was 111 degrees at Livermore Municipal Airport by midafternoon, as residents entered the seven-hour window for a 3-10 p.m. Flex Alert urging them to continue conserving power, amidst the ongoing heat that has put a strain on the state’s power grid.
The Livermore Municipal Airport remained at 100 degrees as of 6:40 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
“With above-normal temperatures in the forecast across much of the state, the power grid operator is expecting high electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand,” said officials from the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).
The high temperatures also resulted in the cancelation of the Dublin Farmers’ Market, which is set to return next Thursday (Sept. 15) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In addition to the Flex Alert calling for voluntary energy conservation, the state was under a Energy Emergency Alert 1 from 3-9 p.m., “which signals that supply deficiencies are expected, and market participants are encouraged to offer more energy bids,” officials said.
According to CAISO officials, the EEA 1 status means that “real-time analysis shows all resources are in use or committed for use, and energy deficiencies are expected.”
“Market participants are encouraged to offer supplemental energy and ancillary service bids,” they continued on a fact sheet. “Consumers are encouraged to conserve energy.”
Later in the day though, CAISO officials gave notice of a shift to an EEA 2, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
“By issuing an EEA 2, the ISO has the option to activ(ate) its emergency response program and it helps the grid secure more supplies,” CAISO officials said in the latter announcement. “The state and much of the West is enduring an historically long and record-breaking heat wave, straining the grid from high electricity use.”
When the demand for energy is larger than the state’s limited supply, CAISO directs PG&E to facilitate rolling outages to relieve pressure from the power grid. The Flex Alert and calls for voluntary conservation are aimed at preventing such outages.
As of 3:40 p.m., CAISO reported a demand of 47,272 megawatts of energy, below the forecasted peak of 49,304 megawatts. By 6:25 p.m., 47,105 megawatts were in use, compared with the forecasted peak of 48,761.
Although no outages were planned or forecasted according to PG&E Thursday, they reported that 90 customers in Dublin were impacted by an unplanned outage by 6:42 p.m., along with three Livermore customers and one Pleasanton customer.
Triple-digit highs are expected to continue in Livermore through Friday, with the NWS predicting highs of 100-plus degrees once again in Livermore, Pleasanton, and Danville. Dublin and San Ramon were expected to be slightly cooler, with highs of 96 and 95 degrees respectively.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s throughout the weekend and Monday, according to the NWS Thursday evening, before dropping to the 70s on Tuesday.
