The Imperial Irrigation District has begun temporarily pausing electric service to some customers.

The National Weather Service said the official high in Imperial County was 121 degrees Saturday. The high temperatures lead to a high demand for electricity and a shortage of energy resources causing the temporary outages. The emergency action , referred to as load shedding , reduces the overall load on the District's electric system. A computer software program selects the areas for the temporary outages which should last no more than 15 minutes at a time. The load shedding program began late Saturday afternoon. 

The IID is asking customers to help reduce the electricity demand by conserving energy. Avoid using major appliances between the peak hours of 4:00 p.m.to 9:00 p.m. Set thermostats at 78 degrees or higher when home. Use floor or ceiling fans to cool off. Turn off unnecessary lights. Block the sun from overheating your home by using shades , blinds or drapes. The Excessive Heat Warning remains in effect through Monday night. Temperatures are forecast to reach at least 116 degrees on Sunday and Monday before a slight cooling trend starts Tuesday.