Rotating power outages in the Fresno area? How to find out if you will be affected
An excessive heat warning continued in the central San Joaquin Valley on Tuesday, increasing the likelihood of rolling blackout as officials manage California’s power supply.
The Pacific Gas & Electric Company told its customers Tuesday that rotating power outages “are likely to occur Tuesday afternoon and evening” between 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
PG&E later delivered better news, saying, “voluntary reductions in usage have so far kept California utilities from having to implement rolling outages today. CAISO (California Independent System Operator) is renewing their call for continued conservation as the heat continues. The Flex Alert is in place until 10 p.m.”
Flex Alert means turn off all unnecessary lights, use major appliances before 3 p.m. and set the air conditioner to 78 degrees or higher.
The PG&E listed a webpage where customers can look to see if their home is affected by a rolling blackout.
Fresno’s temperature hit 107 degrees, according to Brian Ochs of the NWS meteorologist in Hanford. No record was broken. Fresno reached a high of 112 in 1892.
Merced, however, broke a record of 107 degrees. The old record was 106 set in 1992.
The central San Joaquin Valley will continue to sizzle with temperatures forecast to reach 107 degrees on Wednesday before dropping to 100 on Thursday, Ochs said.
The excessive heat warning will last until 9 p.m. Thursday.
This story was originally published August 18, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
