Californians urged to conserve power amid brutal heatwave

A man sits under a shade in Mission Bay, California (Gregory Bull/AP)

Californians sweltering in a lengthening heatwave have been asked to reduce air conditioning and cut other electricity use during critical hours over the weekend to prevent stress on the state’s electrical grid that could lead to rolling blackouts.

Saturday will be the fourth consecutive day of requests by the state’s electrical grid operator for voluntary cutbacks during late afternoon and evening hours to balance supply and demand as millions of residents endure high temperatures.