California urges power conservation as heat wave blasts Southwest

PHOENIX (AP) — California’s power grid operators called for cutbacks in electricity usage as parts of the U.S. Southwest braced Tuesday for another day of scorching heat.

With triple-digit temperatures expected throughout the region, the California Independent System Operator Corp. urged people to ease off blasting the air conditioner or using the washer or other appliances from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and again on Wednesday. Those are the times of peak power usage.

The so-called Flex Alerts are