Heat wave results in record highs and power outages

Bay City News Service

July 23, 2006

Record-high temperatures were recorded throughout the Bay Area Saturday, as sweltering heat prompted a statewide power alert and thousands remain without electricity today.

The National Weather Service reports an unusually strong high pressure is causing the sweltering heat and is expected to last at least through today.

The National Weather service reports record highs were seen in San Rafael at 108 degrees, Oakland at 94, San Francisco at 87, San Jose at 103, Moffett Field at 101, Napa at 107. San Francisco International Airport hit 97 and Oakland Airport hit 94.

Heat wave-related outages affecting over 50,000 customers across the Bay Area began Friday evening, according to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. spokeswoman Darlene Chiu.

Some 36,533 remain without power in the East Bay, 23,849 in the South Bay, 1,551 in the North Bay, and 5,383 in San Francisco and the Peninsula, Chiu said this morning.

"We're waiting for our equipment to cool down,'' she said. "Please continue to conserve and don't use electricity unless you must.''

A heat advisory remains in effect for inland areas through today and high smog levels have paved the way for another Spare the Air day.

Once again, the Bay Area Air Quality District is asking Bay Area residents to cut back on gasoline-powered activities like driving and mowing the lawn.

According to the California Independent System Operator, which monitors the state's power grid, a stage one alert was declared Saturday following record energy demand and a tripped line at a Northern California power plant.

The ISO is urging residents to set thermostats to 78 degrees or higher and turn off all unneeded lights and electronics, especially during peak afternoon hours.

In San Jose Saturday, around 20 people were treated for heat exhaustion after some of them collapsed at an all-day San Jose music festival, according to San Jose Fire Department spokesman Michael Shaw said.

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