SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Multiple power outages were planned Friday as the San Diego and Orange County areas enter one of their hottest heatwaves of the year.
SDG&E said its state overseer, California Independent System Operator, directed the hour-long interruptions in order to reduce strain on the grid during rising temperatures.
The outages were planned throughout the entire county and were on a rotating schedule, besides five 'high-fire' areas that won't have their power affected, according to the SDG&E website.
On Friday, the outages lasted less than 90 minutes and affected 58,700 customers.
The utility company announced on Twitter at 8:20 p.m. that its rotating outages had ended for the night, and all 58,700 customers impacted should have had their power restored.
Cal-ISO, which oversees California's electrical grid, declared a Stage 3 Emergency for all of California at 8 p.m., initiating rotating outages throughout the state.
"A Stage 3 Emergency is declared when demand outpaces available supply," Cal-ISO said in a statement. The order was declared after "extreme heat drove up electricity demand across California, causing the ISO to dip into its operating reserves for supply to cover demand."
You can check your SDG&E bill to see affected areas during the shutoff, according to a statement from SDG&E.
A Flex Alert has already been active for much of the state. The California ISO recommends keeping your air conditioning at 78 degrees or higher, using major appliances before 3 p.m. and turning off any unnecessary lights.
The Flex Alert will stay in effect until Monday night.
SDG&E also recommends shutting down dishwashers, washer and dryer units, and keeping refrigerator and freezer doors closed.