Energy Conservation Alert
With Hot Weather Coming, LADWP Urges Customers to Save Energy While Staying Safe
Gas Shortage From Aliso Canyon Heightens Possibility of Outages this Summer
LOS ANGELES — With near record heat expected to hit Los Angeles this coming Sunday and Monday, June 19-20, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) urges customers to be especially vigilant in reducing their energy use where possible while not putting their health or the health of their pets at risk.
“During times of extreme heat, we strongly encourage customers to conserve electricity as long as it does not jeopardize their health,” General Manager Marcie Edwards said. “Doing simple things such as turning up your thermostat to 78 degrees and turning off your lights will save electricity use and reduce the risk of outages,” Edwards said.
The likelihood of a power outage during a heat wave this summer is heightened because of the gas leak that occurred at the SoCal Gas Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility and resulting moratorium on new gas injections at Aliso Canyon. LADWP and other utilities serving the greater Los Angeles area depend upon this facility to maintain power reliability when energy use spikes during hot weather. Gas is used not only in homes and businesses, but is also primary fuel for gas-fired electric power plants. Aliso Canyon is the only gas storage facility that can immediately respond to rapid changes in gas supply for 17 gas-fired generating plants, including four generating stations operated by LADWP in the Los Angeles basin.
Extreme heat can also impact power reliability as more residents and businesses crank up their air conditioners all at once, causing other appliances to work harder in order to perform and increasing the strain on neighborhood power distribution equipment.
The most effective time to save energy is between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. when energy use is typically the highest.
To help reduce energy use, LADWP recommends the following as highly effective conservation measures:
- Adjust your thermostat to 78 degrees or higher.
- Be smart about lighting. Turn off unnecessary lights.
- Adjust your water heater down to 120 degrees.
- Use your major appliances late in the evening or early in the morning.
- Turn off your pool pumps.
LADWP also offers a number of rebates and programs that can help residential and commercial customers reduce their energy use this summer. For example, LADWP offers rebates of up to $1,000 for a variable speed pool pump, up to $120 per ton for an efficient heating or air conditioning system, and $50 per unit for an efficient room air conditioner.
For more energy-saving tips, visit www.ladwp.com/EEtips. For more information on energy efficiency programs please visit www.ladwp.com/rebatesandprograms.
How to Prepare for a Power Outage
Following are ways that customers can be prepared for possible power outages:
- Store flashlights and batteries in easy-to-reach places around the home. Make a mental note to know where they all are.
- Keep a battery-operated radio nearby for updates on power outages.
- Ventilate your home in the evening by opening doors and windows to clear out heat and circulate air.
- Always have a phone charger in the car. Having a fully charged phone to speak with friends and family during an outage can be both comforting and informative.
- Keep non-perishable food handy. If food in the refrigerator does spoil, you want to be sure and have plenty of alternatives nearby.
- Keep a cooler nearby to transfer food, using whatever ice you have before the outage.
- If you are medically dependent on critical equipment, consider purchasing a gasoline-powered backup generator.
LADWP urges customers to pay attention to and follow instructions when Flex Alerts are issued during peak energy use periods. For the latest information regarding power outages in Los Angeles, follow LADWP on Twitter @LADWP. Customers may also sign up for LADWP email notifications on www.ladwp.com and www.ladwpnews.com.
For more information contact:
Joseph Ramallo
Communications Director, LADWP
(213) 367-1361