Heat Triggers Moderate Power Emergency

Warm temperatures triggered a moderate statewide power emergency Monday, as electricity generators labored to keep up with demand.

The California Independent System Operator, a nonprofit agency that is the state’s electricity supply watchdog, declared a statewide Stage 2 power emergency because the state’s power reserves fell below 5%.

In Cal-ISO’s three-step alert system, a Stage 1 emergency indicates that reserves have fallen below 7%, and electricity customers are urged to conserve. In a Stage 2 emergency, utilities are asked to interrupt power to customers that have agreed to that possibility in exchange for lower rates. A Stage 3 is declared when reserves fall below 1.5%, and rolling blackouts of all users become probable.

Cal-ISO issued its first Stage 1 and 2 alerts of the year Monday as usage climbed during the day.

Air-conditioning, and in turn electricity, was in such demand that Southern California Edison ordered Saugus High School in Santa Clarita Valley to let out early or be forced to pay thousands of dollars in higher power rates. A bell rang at the school at noon Monday, alerting William S. Hart school district officials that it was time to turn off the power. The district’s discount rate plan with Edison calls for the officials to cut power usage when state reserves are low.

The district was one of 1,500 Edison customers faced with enduring the heat without air-conditioning or paying as much as $10,000 an hour in penalties. The four schools in the “interruptible” plan could have been fined $80,000 collectively. Supt. Robert Lee chose the higher rate.

“It was not possible for us to send the students home at 12:30,” he said. “We want to do what’s right where it concerns the state’s [power] resources, but only when we can.”

In Santa Ana, power was out in the county treasurer-tax collector and assessor’s offices because of heavy electrical usage. County Treasurer John Moorlach said numerous frustrated callers phoned in with questions, only to be told computers were not working because of the power outage.

Record high temperatures were recorded in Southern California throughout the weekend. But the heat is expected to abate this week.

Today will be hot in the inland areas, but probably not hot enough to break records, said Stacey Johnstone, a meteorologist for WeatherData Inc., which provides forecasts for The Times. In the valleys, the high temperatures today will range from the mid- to upper 90s. Along the coast, the temperatures will be from the mid-60s to the mid-70s.

Another hot spell is expected Memorial Day weekend.

“Friday through the weekend will start warming up again,” Johnstone said.

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Times staff writer David Haldane contributed to this report.