The Department of Water and Power Sub Station A in North Hollywood, Los Angeles is marked with high voltage signs. Richard Vogel/AP Photo Californians are tired of helping during triple-digit heatSACRAMENTO Californians have had enough of the heat and are tired of their appliances being turned off in the summer heat.State officials have relied on residents for years to save the electric grid's integrity by limiting their energy consumption on the hottest days. Californians ignored repeated calls for conservation during the July heat wave.When temperatures soar, many things can go wrong in the system. This increases the risk of rolling blackouts in weeks before Gov. Gavin Newsom will be recalling the September election. State officials are under immense pressure to keep the lights on, but now they worry that they may have lost a key arrow as the heat waves continue to batter Western states."I don't think we take it that seriously," stated Severin Borenstein, a member on the California grid operator board of governors. "This isn't a mechanism we can rely upon as a primary mechanism to deal with the dire situation we are in."California's difficult transition to renewable energy highlights the challenges facing President Joe Biden's ambitious climate agenda. For example, states that add solar energy to their grids rely less on fossil fuels at night when the sun sets, and more on fossil fuels as the demand for electricity rises.The state's Flex Alert system was a success until recently. It asks residents to turn up the thermostats and stop using appliances on hot days. During the last Labor Day weekend and the following two nights of rolling blackouts in August, conservation helped to save the grid. On Aug. 17, demand dropped to such an extent that it had the equivalent effect of taking more than 3 million homes offline.There is a growing suspicion that Flex Alert is being overused by the state. They are asking too often and on days when air conditioner use is most difficult. It was used sparingly once upon a time, 21 times in 2009 and 2019, but officials have called 10 alerts this year and five this summer.Residents began to feel fatigued by July. Despite two Flex Alerts, demand did not fall on July 9 and 10, but it did drop slightly on July 12, when the temperatures were slightly lower.Elliot Mainzer, California Independent System Operator CEO, politely addressed reporters when he expressed his disappointment at the insignificant conservation July 9. Mainzer stated the next day, "I think we are going to require more response than what we saw last night."When asked about conservation, Mainzer stated that state officials are looking at behavior patterns, messaging, incentives, and messaging.This is a strange way to say that residents may have to be paid to cut their energy consumption.In 2018, the American Economic Journal published a study that found that paying residential property owners more effectively than "moral suasion" to achieve conservation. Koichiro Ito from the University of Chicago, a professor of public policy, described habituation as a psychological phenomenon that results in a lower response to repeated stimuli, such as calls for conservation.New York City sent an unusual emergency alert earlier this month to all residents, asking for conservation. Ito stated that it may not be as effective next time.OhmConnect is one of these companies that are looking for alternatives. The Oakland-based company is offering a million smart thermostats for free. It can remotely control the thermostats during Flex Alert days to adjust higher temperatures. The company receives funds from California's grid operator to convert their demand into what is known as a virtual plant. Customers get up to $450 per year for their conservation.Cisco DeVries, CEO, stated that "I believe we have reached the end people's casual ability and willingness to just help."These incentives won't be enough. Higher electricity prices during heatwaves will be needed, according to Michael Wara, a Stanford University law professor and director of the Climate and Energy Policy Program at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.Increased prices could cause outcry. This was the case in Texas, where customers were charged four- to five-figures for their energy after a severe winter storm. However, the Lone Star State has a system that is largely unregulated and lacks California's market designs and consumer protections.These discussions will be for the future. The state will likely be again at the mercy its citizens in the next months. Borenstein stated that "We are exactly where we need to be for the summer" and that they will use Flex Alerts and hope that people will assist. "I have been beating this drum for over 20 years."Borenstein was a witness at the California State Senate in the wake of the Enron-caused electric crisis, which led to the recalling of the former governor. Gray Davis. Gray Davis wore a shirt and tie with a short sleeves.Borenstein and his coworkers did the same thing in Hawaiian shirts this month during the California grid operator board meeting. He said that they had changed the air conditioning settings to make it more comfortable and declared a Hawaiian shirt summer. "We hope you'll be there," he added.
