For many, vacation is over, and school is back in session — but even with fall right around the corner, summer temps refuse to bow out quietly. The next few days will be some of the hottest Southern California has seen all year.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for much of the region and warns of elevated fire danger, which will last through the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to hit near record highs, with some areas as hot as 110 degrees and isolated spots reaching 120.
During periods of extended heat, electricity demand is high due to air conditioner use and when combined with high overnight temperatures, electrical equipment does not get a chance to cool down, which may lead to outages.
Southern California Edison crews are monitoring the temperatures and ready to respond if heat-related outages occur.
“We plan for situations like this,” said Crystal Chambers, SCE principal manager of Business Resiliency. “We make sure we have the proper staffing and resources ready to respond to any heat-related outage as safely and quickly as we can — making sure our customers have the power they need, when they need it most.”
Customers can check the latest outage information at sce.com/outages. Various counties will also be opening cooling centers.
Tips to save energy and stay cool:
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Set your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and to 85 degrees or “off” when you are away.
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Businesses should shift power-intensive work to the morning or late-evening hours, when possible.
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Give your air conditioner a rest when you can and cool your home with open windows and fans.
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Shut off lights when leaving a room.
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Close your blinds to keep out the afternoon heat.
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Limit the opening and reopening of refrigerators.
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Plug home electronics into power strips and turn off power strips when equipment is not in use.
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Unplug electronic devices and chargers when they are not in use.
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Give your dryer a break and hang dry your clothes.
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Cook with a grill outside or microwave to keep your home cooler.
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Set pool pumps to run in the early morning or late at night.
Bill savings programs:
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Summer Discount Plan allows SCE to install a free, remote-controlled device on your air-conditioning unit that cycles the AC on and off during high-demand periods to help conserve energy.
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The Smart Energy Program is for customers with a smart thermostat. SCE will adjust the temperature during periods of high demand by up to four degrees to help conserve energy. You can override the change at any time.
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Time-of-Use rate plans help you manage energy use and save. Instead of paying a flat rate, you’re charged based on when you use electricity and how much. Off-peak hours — such as mornings, late evenings and weekends — offer lower rates.
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Energy Savings Assistance program helps reduce energy consumption through a range of energy-saving home improvements at no cost to income-eligible customers.
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Income-qualified programs such as the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) or Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) can shave 32.5% or 18% off your monthly bill, respectively.
