A Flex Alert has been issued for Santa Clarita and the rest of California as triple digits are expected over Labor Day weekend, officials said.

During the Flex Alert, which is set to go into place Saturday Sept. 5 lasting through Monday Sept. 7, residents are being urged to turn off unnecessary lights, use major appliances before 3 p.m. and after 10 p.m. and set their air conditioner thermostats to 78 degrees or higher, according to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). 

The National Weather Service predicts the temperatures for Santa Clarita to reach upwards of 111 degrees on Saturday and Sunday. 

“A Flex Alert is a call for consumers to voluntarily conserve electricity when there is a predicted shortage of energy supply, especially if the grid operator needs to dip into reserves to cover demand,” said ISO officials. “When consumers reduce electricity use at critical times, it can prevent more dire emergency measures, including possible power outages.”

The alert is issued by the California Independent System Operator, a nonprofit, public benefit corporation that manages the high-voltage electric grid for 80 percent of California.

A Flex Alert is typically issued in the summer when extremely hot weather pushes up electricity demand. This usually happens in the evening hours when solar generation is going offline and consumers are returning home and switching on air conditioners, lights and appliances. 

To help reserve power during the Flex Alert and to help keep your house cool, experts recommend keeping windows covered and utilize small fans to keep areas of the house at a reasonable temperature.  

If demand exceeds the energy available, CAISO may declare a Stage 3 Emergency, when rotating power outages or “rolling blackouts” may occur, according to the agency. 

For more information, visit the CAISO website. 

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.