California grid urges conservation amid heat and fires

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - The California Independent System Operator issued an alert to the state's investor-owned utilities to restrict maintenance on power plants and transmission lines.

The state is encountering the first major heat wave of the year and electricity demand is expected to strain resources.

The heat wave is to last until July 11, particularly in central and northern California.

The Cal ISO manages the power grid on which flows 80 percent of the state's electricity.

The transmission system is owned by Pacific Gas & Electric, a unit of PG&E Corp, Southern California Edison, a unit of Edison International, and San Diego Gas & Electric, a subsidiary of Sempra Energy.