California power supply pushed to limit

The death toll from a heat wave continued rising Tuesday as utilities renewed their pleas for energy conservation to avoid rolling blackouts.

Slightly cooler temperatures were expected in California, thought the misery index remained high: temperatures in the Central Valley were expected to reach 100 to 105 Fahrenheit (37.8 to 40.6 Celsius) on Tuesday, compared to as high as 115 during previous days, the National Weather Service said.

Authorities were investigating at least 34 deaths possibly caused by the heat, most in the steamy Central Valley. Officials said most of the victims were elderly.

Thousands of farm animals also were dying in the heat, officials said.

In St. Louis, Missouri, where more than 150,000 customers have been suffering through a weeklong heat wave without electricity, one utility worker was electrocuted Tuesday after stepping on a downed power line that had been obscured by branches, and another suffered electrical burns, utility Ameren Corps. said.

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