How to save power during a Flex Alert

California's sultry summer days come with an increased risk of power outages and wildfires. But there's a way you can help: by decreasing how much power you're using during a Flex Alert.

A Flex Alert is a notice by California's Independent System Operator, which oversees our state's power grid. Basically, it is a request for people to consider unplugging devices, turning up the thermostat a few degrees, and holding off on running large appliances until the power demand is lower later in the evening. Flex Alerts tend to be set from late afternoon through the evening, when people are starting to return from school and work and everyone's flipping on the air conditioning.

If energy usage doesn't come down enough, the ISO can direct utility companies to rotate power outages to prevent the grid from collapsing.

What should I do during a Flex Alert to save power?

Here are some things you can do:

When you know a Flex Alert is scheduled for later in the day, think about charging your devices and cranking the air conditioning beforehand. Then unplug your stuff and turn the thermostat up to 78 degrees or higher once the alert begins.

"It's during those Flex Alerts, those peak hours, that's when you want to conserve energy," Diane Castro, a spokesperson for Southern California Edison, said in a 2021 interview with The Times.

Complying with a Flex Alert is completely voluntary. No one's going to come knocking at your door if you use your AC to turn your living room into a meat locker. But an overburdened grid can lead to power outages, wildfires and other bad things we generally want to avoid, so it's in your best interest to do your part.

If there is a risk of a power outage where you are, here's what to do before, during and after the power goes out. And if a wildfire is in your area and you may need to evacuate, we have advice on what to take with you and what to leave behind.