The California Independent System Operator made a plea to Western electric plants and power traders.
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The ISO says the power grid will be strained during July and August as Californians use more electricity to run their A/C.
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Fresno Assemblymember Jim Patterson says he has been warning of the state's limited energy.
He says a "call out" like this should never have to happen.
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"This is embarrassing, frankly, that the state of California now has to anticipate that other electricity producers and providers across the world will somehow send a bunch of electricity into the Western United States so that California can buy it," Patterson said Thursday.
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Patterson says the need to go outside of the state for energy will drive up the price of electricity for Californians.