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

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

DON'T MISS

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

DON'T MISS

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

DON'T MISS

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

DON'T MISS

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

DON'T MISS

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

DON'T MISS

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

DON'T MISS

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

DON'T MISS

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

DON'T MISS

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

UP NEXT

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

UP NEXT

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

UP NEXT

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

UP NEXT

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

UP NEXT

No More Calling ‘Shotgun?’ CA Could Ban Teens From Riding in Front Seat

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Christopher Robert Sharkey

UP NEXT

Diehard Baseball Fans in Sacramento Welcome Athletics and Hope They Stay Awhile

UP NEXT

Flores Homers, Matos and Wade Also Go Deep to Help Giants Cap Sweep of Astros

UP NEXT

Fresno County Authorities Need Help Finding Family of Alejandro Solis

UP NEXT

Lilly Is a Young Terrier Who Loves Dogs, Cats, and People

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

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

10 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

11 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

11 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

12 hours ago

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

14 hours ago

Pence Will Receive the Profile in Courage Award From the JFK Library for His Actions on Jan. 6

14 hours ago

Politics Turns Ugly for a Conservative Running for Fresno State Student Body President

14 hours ago

Pentagon’s Watchdog to Review Hegseth’s Use of Signal App to Convey Plans for Houthi Strike

14 hours ago

President Trump’s Tariffs Could Be the Political Tipping Point

15 hours ago

Order That Kept Water in the Kern River Reversed by 5th District Court of Appeal

15 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

GV Wire’s Edward Smith talks with KMPH Fox 26 “Great Day” anchor Christina Rodriguez about the possibility of CEMEX digging a 600-foot hole ...

9 hours ago

9 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: CEMEX’s New Mining Plan for the San Joaquin River

President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP/Mark Schiefelbein)
9 hours ago

Trump Fires NSC Officials a Day After Far-Right Activist Raises Concerns to Him

10 hours ago

China Halts Approvals for New US Investment Projects

10 hours ago

Measles Spreads to Central Texas; 5 States Have Active Outbreaks

11 hours ago

Trump Tariff Fears Erase $2 Trillion From US Stocks

11 hours ago

Startup Offers Controversial Microplastic Blood Cleansing Treatment

Dr. Mehmet Oz, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, seated right, gives a thumbs-up alongside his wife Lisa Oz, seated left, with friends and family after he testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP/Ben Curtis)
12 hours ago

Senate Confirms Mehmet Oz to Take Lead of Medicare and Medicaid Agency

14 hours ago

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

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

Search

Send this to a friend