Scorching Heat Saps Power Grid in Southern California

Scorching Heat Saps Power Grid in Southern California

By Debbie Pfeiffer Trunnell, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Calif. -- May 4

Smashing records all over the Southland, a heat wave Monday triggered a "transmission alert' by the state's power-grid operator.

"We have plenty of power, but we can't get it to where it's needed," said Lorie O'Donley, spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator, which oversees most of the state's power grid.

The power alert affected Southern California Edison customers who had voluntarily agreed to curtail electricity use when asked to in exchange for lower rates, she said.

A ridge of high pressure that pumped dry, hot air from the deserts was expected to move east today, resulting in ocean breezes and temperatures dropping by as much as 20 degrees, the National Weather Service said.

O'Donley said her agency does not expect to call any power alerts today.

The mercury soared to record highs Monday. The high at the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center was 101 degrees, well above the previous record of 95 set in 1984.

In Whittier, the mercury hit 104 at the home of local weather watcher George Hughes, who has kept track for the past five years. Pasadena got up to 101, beating a record of 94 set in 1947. And it was 104 in Long Beach, surpassing the record of 96 set in 1970.

City News Service contributed to this story.

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