Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Historic Heat Wave & Energy Shortages – What You Need to Know

There is a significant warming trend and heatwave impacting California and the rest of the West Coast that will put pressure on our energy grid. In order to avoid electricity shortages, we are asking businesses and residents to reduce energy usage in order to prevent service interruptions.

It’s especially important to limit energy usage from 3 pm to 10 pm, especially air conditioning, electric car charging and other energy intensive technology.

Sign up to receive Flex Alert notifications from your utility provider to help California conserve energy during times of grid stress. You can also check out https://readysbc.org/psps/ for tips on what to do before, during, and after power loss.

Easy Actions You Can Take at Home

? Adjust Your Thermostat

• Set your thermostat at 78° or higher during 3-10 pm.
• Pre-cool your home by setting thermostats to 72° in the early part of the day (when it is more efficient) and 78° or higher after 3 pm
• Use smart or programmable features to help maintain energy savings when you’re not home.

? Major Appliance Use

• Postpone using major appliances like the oven, dishwasher, clothes washer, until cooler times of the day.
• Run your dishwasher and clothes washer only when full.
• Wash clothes in cold water.
• Clean or replace dirty filters.
• Turn your water heater down to 120° or the “normal” setting.

? Close Windows and Doors

• In the morning before the day starts to heat up, close windows and blinds to keep warm air out.
• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent the loss of cooled air.

? Smart Energy Use

• Turn off unnecessary lights.
• Use lamps with LEDs instead of overhead lights.
• Enable “power management” on all computers and turn off when not in use.
• Unplug phone charges, power strips (those without a switch) and other equipment when not in use.

? Conservation Programs

• Consider participating in your utility’s demand response program. These voluntary programs are short, temporary measures to reduce energy consumption when power supplies are critically low and a Flex Alert has been issued. Contact your local electric utility to learn about your utility’s program and incentives they may offer to participate.

Downloads and Resources

• National Weather Service – See current Watches, Warnings or Weather Advisories
• Red Flag and Fire Weather Warnings:

Fact Sheets from the CDC on those especially vulnerable to heat exhaustion and stroke

• People aged 65 and older | Spanish (en español)
• Infants and children | Spanish (en español)
• People with chronic medical conditions | Spanish (en español)
• Low income | Spanish (en español)
• Outdoor workers | Spanish (en español)
• Athletes | Spanish (en español)

Please stay safe and conserve energy to the extent possible as we endure these extreme heat impacts in addition to the impacts of the Coronavirus. Our active cases in Santa Barbara County are on the decline (currently 290 active cases), yet the state’s electronic disease reporting system is still experiencing issues processing incoming reports. We must continue to be vigilant to get kids back in school and beat this virus!

Take care,

Das