Commentary
For years I’ve been writing columns saying California’s electric grid couldn’t handle all the electric cars soon to come online. Now it’s obvious because it’s happening in real time.
This week, the California Independent System Operator (ISO) issued a statewide Flex Alert, starting Aug. 31 and continuing for three consecutive days. According to the announcement, the alert is “a call for voluntary electricity conservation … from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., due to high temperatures pushing up energy demand and tightening available power supplies.
“With excessive heat in the forecast across much of the state and Western U.S., the grid operator is expecting high electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use, and is calling for voluntary conservation steps to help balance supply and demand. Additional Flex Alerts are also possible through the Labor Day weekend as record setting temperatures are forecast across much of the West.”…