Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
PG&E Customers Can Find Out If Rolling Blackouts Will Affect Their House
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 5 years ago on
August 18, 2020

Share

Congratulations, Fresno and Clovis.

Pacific Gas & Electric officials rolled out a mission Monday — conserve energy to avoid rolling blackouts — and residents throughout the utility’s service area carried it out.

Now, the question is: Will residents save enough juice to avoid rotating power outages Tuesday evening?

As of 4:23 p.m. Tuesday, the answer was yes.

“Voluntary reductions in usage have so far kept California utilities from having to implement rolling outages today,” a PG&E official said.

During a Flex Alert, residents are asked to voluntarily reduce electricity usage so that Cal-ISO doesn’t have to order rolling blackouts.

“Conserving energy will continue to be very important” throughout the heatwave, PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles told  GV Wire℠ on Tuesday morning.

At noon, PG&E warned that rotating blackouts were “likely to occur” later in the day.

How to See If Your House Will Go Dark

You can follow the state’s electricity supply, current demand, and expected peak demand in real-time at this link.

In addition, PG&E customers can look up their address to determine if their household will be affected. Visit www.pge.com/rotatingoutages to check your address.

Watch: How to Check Your Address for Rolling Blackouts

What Is a Flex Alert?

A statewide Flex Alert is in effect from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. through at least Wednesday.

During a Flex Alert, residents are asked to voluntarily reduce electricity usage so that Cal-ISO, the electricity grid operator, doesn’t have to order rolling one- or two-hour blackouts.

We’re doing laundry and dishes during the day, turning off lights where they’re not needed, and keeping blinds and curtains closed. Instead of turning on the oven, which warms the house, I’m  cooking at night outside on a gas grill.” — PG&E spokesman Denny Boyles, on how he’s cutting electricity use while sheltering in place

Boyles’ No. 1 tip for residents is to bump up their thermostat during Flex Alert hours. He also explained what he’s doing at his house to cut electricity consumption between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.

“We’re doing laundry and dishes during the day, turning off lights where they’re not needed, and keeping blinds and curtains closed,” said Boyles, who is working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Instead of turning on the oven, which warms the house, I’m  cooking at night outside on a gas grill.”

Another tip: Change your air conditioner filter regularly.

graphic of tips to reduce power use and avoid rolling electricity blackouts

Fresno Has Hit Century Mark 43 Times This Summer

As for the heatwave, it’s not going anywhere soon.

The Weather Channel forecast calls for triple-digit temperatures through Sunday, Aug. 30, and the Excessive Heat Warning from the National Weather Service Hanford will remain in effect through Thursday evening.

Tuesday’s high temperature in Fresno is predicted to be 110 degrees, and Wednesday’s forecast calls for 109. A drop to 103 Thursday and Friday is expected followed by weekend temperatures of 106.

NWS Hanford tweeted Tuesday that Fresno has had 43 days this summer with temperatures of 100 degrees or higher. On 10 of those days, the thermometer hit at least 105 — topped by Sunday’s 112.

Tips on staying safe and cool during a heatwavean

 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

DON'T MISS

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

DON'T MISS

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

DON'T MISS

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

DON'T MISS

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

DON'T MISS

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

DON'T MISS

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

DON'T MISS

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

DON'T MISS

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

UP NEXT

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

UP NEXT

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

UP NEXT

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

UP NEXT

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

UP NEXT

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

UP NEXT

Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants

UP NEXT

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

UP NEXT

The Latest: Francis Is Remembered as a ‘Pope Among the People’ as He Is Laid to Rest

UP NEXT

Trump Now Doubts Putin Wants to End Ukraine War, a Day After Saying a Deal Was Close

UP NEXT

Fresno Elderly Woman Evicted, Forced to Leave Dogs Behind. One Still Needs a Home.

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

2 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

2 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

5 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

5 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

5 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders Is Still Waiting for a Call as the NFL Draft Enters the Final Day

5 hours ago

Israel’s AI Experiments in the War in Gaza Raise Ethical Concerns

6 hours ago

Paul Skenes Strikes Out 9, Wins Duel With Yamamoto in Pirates’ Victory Over Dodgers

6 hours ago

Eovaldi Outlasts Verlander as Rangers Beat Giants

6 hours ago

Rams Take Oregon Tight End Terrance Ferguson in Second Round After Trading Out of First

6 hours ago

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

President Donald Trump said Saturday that Russia’s escalating bombardment of Ukraine had left him concerned that Russia did not want to end ...

39 minutes ago

39 minutes ago

Trump Says Putin May Not Want Peace and May Need to Be ‘Dealt With Differently’

44 minutes ago

Is It Bad to Chew Gum All Day?

50 minutes ago

Dollar Doubts Dominate Gathering of Global Economic Leaders

2 hours ago

US Judge Temporarily Stops West Texas Immigrant Deportations Under Alien Enemies Act

2 hours ago

Shedeur Sanders’ Long Wait Ends When Browns Take Him in the 5th Round of the NFL Draft

5 hours ago

Only About Half of Republicans Say Trump Has Focused on the Right Priorities

5 hours ago

ICE Deports the Mother of an Infant and a 2-Year-Old Who Is a US Citizen

5 hours ago

Israeli Airstrike Kills 10 People, Half of Them Children

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend