City’s power grid strained

CITY HALL — With high temperatures and smoke-filled skies prompting more residents to shut windows and crank up the air conditioning, the net effect is straining the city’s electrical grid, officials said Monday.

As a result, Glendale Water & Power officials are asking residents to conserve energy to reduce the chances of power outages.

Residents should turn their air conditioning units to at least 78-degrees when at home, and to turn them off when leaving the house, said Atineh Haroutunian, public benefit programs coordinator.

“Now that the temperatures are high and the air quality is poor, the first thing people do is turn on the air conditioning,” she said. Too much stress on the power grid can cause power outages, she warned.

All city buildings are running lights at half levels in an effort to save energy.

Utility officials are also asking customers hold off on running dishwashers and washing machines until the evening hours and to only to wash full loads, she said.