Avoid that A/C!

The [[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/24/us/24cnd-heat.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|blistering heat wave]] has [[http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_1220501.php|triggered a Stage One power alert]] in California and the state might very well be [[http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-072406power,0,4514866.story?coll=la-home-headlines|on its way to a Stage Three]] power alert (see [[http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=california+power+alert&btnG=Search+News|more news here]]).

Please try and help in whatever way you can:

* Avoid using A/C and cooling. Set your thermostats to around 78-80 degrees.
* Pools don’t really need to be “cooled” — take a dip just like that!
* Avoid using big appliances at peak times.

More coverage (including useful links to resources) over at [[http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/weather/|Mercury News]].