Officials Say Power Grid Stable Despite Heatwave

Southern California residents will feel the heat again today as a hot spell keeps temperatures above normal. Power grid managers say the warm weather will push up demand for electricity. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

The high temperatures will push demand for power close to the high mark for the summer. Greg Fishman works with the agency that managers the state's power grid. He says the warm weather in Southern California will cause a spike in demand.  

Fishman: That's where the majority of our population is and we do see our load, the demand for energy, climb as a result. But what we're seeing in terms of weather for Northern California, it is still relatively mild.

Fishman says that means there should be plenty of juice available to cool homes and businesses in the middle of the day. He says the summer has been a mild one so far and that makes it easy on power managers. However, Fishman says the hottest part of summer and the peak of the wildfire season are both still weeks away.

Erik Anderson KPBS News.