California consumers respond to appeals for electricity conservation during heat wave

During an extreme heat wave in early September, California's power grid had trouble meeting record-breaking electricity demand as consumers turned up their air conditioning to keep cool. To avoid rolling blackouts, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which manages the grid for most of the state, and state officials issued appeals to consumers throughout the heat wave asking them to conserve electricity to lower demand, activated demand response programs, and relied heavily on natural gas and imported electricity. More »