Weather & Science
California Declares Grid Emergency, Warning of Blackouts
- Electricity use seen hitting five-year high early next week
- Consumers were asked to conserve as temperatures soar
Electricity transmission towers in Santa Clarita, California.
Photographer: Bing Guan/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
California officials declared a statewide grid emergency to cope with surging demand for power amid a blistering heat wave, raising the prospect of rolling blackouts.
The California Independent System Operator issued a level-1 energy emergency alert around 3:10 p.m. local time Wednesday after tapping all of its available power supplies. The notice, which comes after officials asked homes and businesses to conserve, is a warning that the state is anticipating power shortages.