Why Power Saver Rewards Encourages a Safer California for All

Extreme weather events fueled by human-induced climate change have become an unfortunate reality for Californians, forcing us to adapt to a “new normal” defined by excessive heatwaves and frequent droughts. However, these events do not impact everyone equally. During climate-related emergencies, like when a heat wave threatens to cause a power outage due to more demand for energy than there is supply, it is the blind community and other individuals with disabilities who bear a disproportionate burden due to the structural challenges entrenched within our communities.

At the California Council of the Blind (CCB), we are committed to collaborating with our chapters and partners across the state to raise awareness among Californians and find solutions to address this “new normal.” One of those solutions is the Power Saver Rewards program. With the understanding that our most vulnerable populations rely on critical residential infrastructure, medical devices, telecommunications, transportation, and more, CCB asks all Californians to join Power Saver Rewards and help prevent a power outage if a Flex Alert is called.

Power Saver Rewards is a free program sponsored by California and utility companies. When you register at PowerSaverRewards.org and save energy during a Flex Alert, you get a credit on your energy bill. Flex Alerts are issued whenever there’s not enough supply of electricity to meet demand, which usually occurs during heatwaves. Last year, we experienced a multi-day heatwave that resulted in a series of Flex Alerts where Californians were asked to reduce their energy use from 4 to 9 p.m. So it’s important to always be prepared.

The California Council of the Blind’s education and outreach campaign will be at community events across California, participating in online discussions, and providing information across our communications channels reminding residents of the advantages of joining Power Saver Rewards as well as tips for reducing energy use during a Flex Alert. The best way to cut your energy use when a Flex Alert is called is to wait to use high energy appliances like your washing machine and dishwasher. While it can be inconvenient to wait to do the dishes or do laundry early in the day, your efforts to shift energy use to before 4 p.m. or after 9 p.m. can make a real difference. 

For the blind and disabled communities, a power outage triggered during a Flex Alert can have severe consequences. Loss of electricity means the disruption of essential services and equipment that blind individuals rely on for their day-to-day lives. From assistive technologies to transportation systems, these critical resources become inaccessible during power outages, further exacerbating the challenges faced by blind individuals. 

In addition to helping blind and disabled community members maintain access to critical electrically powered systems, when you save energy during a Flex Alert, you’re contributing to a more sustainable future. This is because there’s usually plenty of renewable energy, like solar, available during the day. It’s only in the late afternoon and evening when renewable energy starts to taper off. So, when you use less energy during a Flex Alert (4-9 p.m.), you are minimizing the power you consume from fossil fuels and maximizing your consumption of renewable energy. We hope you will join us this summer in participating in Power Saver Rewards and helping prevent a power outage when a Flex Alert is called. 

James J. Collins, Community Educator, California Council of the Blind