SMUD Forecasts Near Record Demand

Customer conservation is needed

As an extreme and unprecedented heat wave deepens, SMUD and all grid operators across the state are using every available means to avoid rotating outages in the early evening hours. SMUD asks customers to limit their use of electricity from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. This aligns with Governor Newsom’s state of emergency order and the California Independent System Operator’s extended series of Flex alerts.

Residential customers can help by raising thermostat settings on air conditioners to 80 degrees, limiting the use of major appliances and turning off unnecessary lights.

Commercial and industrial customers are asked to reduce the use of lighting not essential for safety purposes in garages, hallways, lobbies, warehouses and displays. The minimized use of office equipment, supply and exhaust fans, circulating pumps, and maintenance and repair equipment will also allow lower the demand for electricity.

SMUD will exhaust every avenue before rotating outages are called. This includes procuring power on the open market, activating its voluntary Air Conditioning Load Management program and calling on commercial customers who have previously agreed to reduce consumption. 

Should rotating outages become necessary, impacted customers will be given as much advanced notice as possible, and no customer will be out of power for more than approximately one hour. SMUD would rotate outages by sections until the emergency is over. No section will be repeated until all 39 sections have been cycled through. Customers can learn which section they are in on the rotating outage map.