AP
High voltage signs are posted on the Department of Water and Power sub station E in the North Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2020. California has ordered rolling power outages for the first time since 2001 as a statewide heat wave strained its electrical system. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020 | 2:52 p.m.
To avert power blackouts like the ones seen in California during the current heat wave, NV Energy is asking customers to conserve energy today and Wednesday.
Between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. both days, thermostats should be set at no lower than 78 degrees; large appliances, such as washing machines, stoves and ovens, should not be used; lights should be turned off and appliances not being used should be unplugged, the utility said.
Additionally, electric vehicles should not be charged during that time, and pool pumps should be turned off, the utility said.
“We understand that many of you are home during this time due to the pandemic, and apologize for any inconvenience,” the utility said in a letter sent to customers. “By conserving energy together, we will help prevent the current Western United States energy supply shortage from escalating into a more serious reliability problem.”
The announcement comes as the Las Vegas Valley has experienced, and will continue to be battered by, an excessive heat warning with temperatures hovering above 110 degrees. A small reprieve won’t occur until Monday, when the forecast temperatures were set at 108 degrees.
California officials on Monday prevented widespread blackouts, which would have left customers there with no power for up to two hours. However, rolling blackouts were implemented Friday, the first in 20 years, the Associated Press reported.
The three biggest utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — turned off power to more than 410,000 homes and businesses for about an hour at a time until an emergency declaration that ended 3 1/2 hours later.
A second but shorter outage hit Saturday evening, affecting more than 200,000 customers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
