Temperatures of up to 44 degrees Celsius are expected in suburban Los Angeles as a massive heat wave scorches swaths of the western United States.
Extreme weather is putting enormous pressure on already depleted power grid capacity, especially as people tend to use air conditioning a lot more after work or study.
“Consumers are urged to reduce energy use between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., when the system is working harder due to constant high demand and less available solar energy,” requested the Public Power Association from the United States.
“The top three conservation actions are setting thermostats above 78 degrees Fahrenheit, avoiding the use of large appliances and charging electric vehicles, and turning off unnecessary lights.”
The call to limit the charging of electric vehicles comes a week after state regulators announced a ban on the sale of vehicles whose combustion is derived from petroleum or diesel, starting in 2035.
However, Wednesday’s call to save energy didn’t go down too well on Twitter, with some views pointing to questioning the state’s green agenda.
In response to rising energy demand, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency that temporarily lifts pollution controls for fossil fuel-fired power plants to allow them to generate more electricity.
Meanwhile, the National Weather Service (NSW) issued an “excessive heat watch” for most of California, as well as parts of Arizona and Nevada.
“Dangerous hot conditions are expected (…) until Sunday night,” the NSW forecast.
The heat wave comes after swaths of the southeastern state have been lashed with torrential rain in recent weeks.
Scientists say that global warming is causing natural variations in climate to become extreme.
The entrance Due to heat wave, they ask Californians not to charge their electric vehicles was first published in diary TODAY.
