Due to extreme heat the California Independent System Operator has issued a Flex Alert calling for voluntary energy conservation. Consumers are being asked to curtail energy usage between 5PM and 9PM Wednesday evening. Turn off all unnecessary lights, set your thermostat at 78, and curtail major appliances like dishwashers and washing machines. A FLEX Alert is issued when the electric grid is under stress from outages or persistent hot temperatures. The ISO covers about 80 percent of consumers in California.