Palm Desert Residents Urged To Conserve Energy During Heat Wave

PALM DESERT, CA — The Imperial Irrigation District is urging Palm Desert and Coachella Valley residents to conserve energy as extreme heat bakes the region this week.

The alert will be active from Wednesday until Friday, 8 p.m. amid dangerously high temperatures.

The call to reduce energy consumption coincides with an extreme heat warning from the National Weather Service, which is scheduled to last through 8 p.m. Saturday for Palm Desert, Indio, Coachella, Cathedral City, La Quinta and Palm Springs.

In Palm Desert, temperatures are expected to crack 114 degrees on Thursday, according to the weather service.

During heat waves of recent years, significant strain has been placed on California's power grid, causing power outages. To prevent prolonged outages in the past, utility companies have imposed rolling blackouts, which are planned, rotating, temporary outages to prevent overload of the power grid.

The IID advised residents to do the following when a Conserve Alert is issued:

• Between peak hours of 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., avoid the use of major appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers, pool pumps, charging of electric vehicles, applicable industrial equipment, etc.
• Set thermostats at 78 degrees or higher when home.
• Use floor or ceiling fans to cool off for less; however, be sure to turn fans off when you leave a room, as they only cool people, not spaces.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights.
• Block the sun from overheating your home. Inside, use shades, blinds and drapes. Outside, use awnings, trees and shrubs.

IID provides electricity service to Coachella, Indio, La Quinta, Bermuda Dunes, Thousand Palms, Indio Hills, Sky Valley, Mecca, Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Indian Wells.