The National Weather Service reported today that inland areas in Southern California could reach near-record temperatures each afternoon through Sunday. Projected maximum afternoon temperatures will range from the upper 90s to 110 degrees. The humidity will exceed critical levels, leading to possible spells of rainfall.

In these times of threatening heat, the City of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles Department of Public Health are reminding residents to take advantage of the cooling centers at the Valencia Library and Senior Center.

The Senior Center is located at 22900 Market Street and the number is (661) 259-9444. The Valencia Library is located at 23743 West Valencia Blvd, and the number is (661) 259-8942.

Summer is officially here, and the merciless heat doesn’t appear likely to grant Southern California sufferers a reprieve.

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To most, the obvious option is to cool down by switching on an air conditioner. But as residents return from work to their roasted homes, countless units will turn on simultaneously. This can overwork power grids, causing shortages.

Southern California Edison has measures in place to prevent this. Aside from advising customers to leave their air conditioners off during the afternoon, the company offers four-month summer discount rates to subscribers who choose to deactivate their air conditioners between the hours of 1 and 6 p.m.

This inactivity allows power grids to store energy that will be used during periods of peak use.

According to Anna Frutos-Sanchez, Public Affairs Regional Manager at So Cal Edison, rotating outages may still occur, but not until Edison exhausts the built up power created by customers signed up for the discounted rates.

Information provided on Edison’s website defines a rotating outage as a controlled electric reduction that lasts up to one hour for a group of circuits. Each group of circuits is assigned a number, which is specific to an area in Southern California. Santa Clarita’s group number is R001, and residents can check here to see when and if their area is subject to a rotating outage.