Southern California Utilities Prep Shutoffs as Fire Risk Surges

Thousands of homes and businesses in Southern California have been warned of the potential for power cuts in the coming days as a heat wave boosts wildfire risk throughout the region.

With triple-digit temperatures expected this weekend, Edison International’s Southern California utility said it is mulling preventive power shutoffs Friday and Saturday for 9,990 customers in Riverside County, south of San Bernardino National Forest. Sempra’s San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has also flagged potential shutoffs for more than 35,000 customers in “at-risk communities” near mountain foothills.

Related: Southern California Edison Chief Warns Wildfire Impasse Risks Higher Customer Bills

Falling humidity and drying winds are combining with unseasonable autumn heat to crisp up dead grass and brush. Downtown Los Angeles is forecast to reach 97F (37C) Saturday, with extreme heat warnings and watches posted across the region from Friday to next Thursday, the National Weather Service said.

Southern California and the West will start October much warmer than normal, after the US had its second-hottest September on record, according to a key metric used by energy traders and meteorologists.

Population-weighted cooling degree days, a measure of weather’s impact on energy demand, came in at 258 across the contiguous U.S., second only to 262 in September 2019, said Matt Rogers, president of commercial-forecaster Commodity Weather Group.

As Californians crank their air conditioners, the state’s largest power grid is expecting demand to surge to more than 43.2 gigawatts by Tuesday. California ISO had previously predicted that peak daily demand throughout October would stay below 38 GW.

The warmth across the entire West is expected to continue through the middle of the month, according to the US Climate Prediction Center. Commodity Weather Group said the U.S., large parts of Canada and Mexico will also remain warm through the end of the month.

The only places that look cooler than normal in its month-long outlook will be northern Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. New York City and most of New England may be seasonal.