Thank god for electricity on days like today. 115+ degree weather is miserable and dangerous without air conditioning. Which is why it is ridiculous and outrageous that IID may have to impose rolling brownouts this afternoon.
Via Desert Sun:
IID said its grid reached peak capacity on Thursday, and with temperatures expected to reach 114 degrees throughout the Coachella Valley today, the grid will be stressed even more.
“If energy usage is not reduced, IID may be forced to institute rolling brownouts this afternoon,” said Marion Champion, a spokesperson for the IID. “Our system was at peak capacity yesterday and with hotter temperatures in the forecast today we are asking all of our electrical customers to conserve.”
Admittedly, I am not an expert on electricty – yet somehow, Red Lobster manages to never run out of crustaceans during peak season (“All You Can Eat Shrimp!”), so how does the electric company manage to run out during “All You Can Heat Friday”? Yes, there is much more to it, but to have the threat of people losing their air conditioning on the hottest day of they year is mind boggling.
To keep everything running, IID is asking that customers reduce usage between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. today.