Californians asked to conserve power amid brutal heat wave

By JOHN ANTCZAK and EUGENE GARCIA
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Californians sweltering in the West’s lengthening heat wave have been asked to reduce air conditioning and cut other electricity use again to prevent stress on the state’s electrical grid that could lead to rolling blackouts. Friday is the third consecutive day of requests by the state’s grid operator. It’s also calling Saturday for voluntary cutbacks during late afternoon and evening hours to balance supply and demand. The California Independent System Operator says multiple generators have been forced out of service because of the extreme heat, making energy supplies tighter. The grid operator says Thursday saw the highest electrical demand since September 2017, and there’s major concern about even higher temperatures Sunday through Tuesday.