Calif. Starts Summer with a Power Alert

Reuters ^ | 28 May 2003 | James Jelter

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Calif. Starts Summer with a Power Alert Reuters Wednesday, May 28, 2003; 8:01 PM By James Jelter

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California energy officials declared a power emergency on Wednesday -- the first in nearly a year -- in what could be the start of another long, hot summer for the energy-starved state.

Despite state officials' assurances of adequate power, heavy air conditioning during the year's first heat wave nearly depleted supplies, prompting calls for emergency energy from generators and public pleas to save energy.

California's 35 million residents, hit by blackouts and daily calls to douse lights during the state's 2000-01 energy crisis, have not weathered a power alert since July 10, 2002.

The Stage One alert, the lowest on the state's three-tiered power emergency plan, was declared through 8 p.m. Pacific Time (11 p.m. Eastern) by the California Independent System Operator, the group that manages the high-voltage power grid.

ISO spokesman Gregg Fishman explained temperatures statewide had been running much higher than forecast, leaving too little power to go around.

But the situation was easing as the sun slipped lower in the sky and blackouts were not seen as a likely threat.

"We're definitely over the hump," Fishman said, adding the weather was forecast to cool slightly on Thursday.

"Theoretically things should be better tomorrow," he said.

Power demand typically peaks on hot summer days at around 4 p.m. when air conditioning siphons off about a third of all the megawatts on the grid.

And air conditioners got a good workout Wednesday, with temperatures in inland cities like Fresno, Bakersfield and suburbs east of Los Angeles topping 100 degrees F (38 C), a blistering early taste of summer.

SURPRISE

The alert caught most Californian's off guard.

Within the past week a variety of state officials reassured residents that power shortages were unlikely this summer following an aggressive campaign to build new power plants, conserve energy, and sort out the volatile electricity market.

Earlier Wednesday, a report by the California Energy Commission claimed the state appeared in good shape and that power demand "will be reliably served ... through 2004-2006."

The commission plays a key role in planning energy policy and is responsible for licensing new power plants.

Meanwhile, the California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates investor-owned utilities in the state, appealed to residents to conserve electricity.

"We are expecting a hotter than normal summer, and energy efficiency and conservation are a large part of our energy action plan," said Sheri Inouye, spokeswoman for the CPUC. (Additional reporting by Nigel Hunt, Los Angeles, and Leonard Anderson, San Francisco)

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Tens of billions of dollars of debt (and no substantial new power plants) later, and this is what Gray Davis has to show for his efforts.

Malfeasance and lies.

Out with him!

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Ping

[homeschool mama]

hey grammie! ya got the air conditioning running? :oD

[homeschool mama]

It's kinda toasty in the Sacramento area today. Glad I'm nice and cool in a 73 degree home. :o)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks, I will put it on the list for everyones pleasure!

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[Amerigomag]

What bothers me is the almost 6,000 megawatts of "unplanned" outages.

These outages represent almost 15% of the demand. Doesn't sound like the system is very reliable either.

I'd give up a day or two of A/C if it would guarantee Davis is toast.

[Amerigomag]

It's kinda toasty in the Sacramento area today

Actually over 70% of California is near seasonal temperatures today. The only hot spot is in the southern San Joaquin Valley.

When the real heat arrives I wonder if the system can survive?

[WestCoastGal]

Hey all, it's 110 here right now at 5:30pm. Yep the air conditioning is cranking and you feel like hibernating until Fall. Mr Davis has not helped this state at all and hopefully the dumb Dems will remember that when re-election time comes. Hey Arnold, we need help!!

[GOPrincess]

Ya know, I almost hope we have a bunch of rolling blackouts early this summer just to remind the voters and help along the recall.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

Ping the Manure Movers too!

[homeschool mama]

110?! yikes. Where are you located?

We're in the 90's and I'm hating it.

[onedoug]

Californians, bend over.

[homeschool mama]

**Ya know, I almost hope we have a bunch of rolling blackouts early this summer just to remind the voters and help along the recall. **

Could you let me know when these blackouts are..so as I can plan to be away? lol

(I agree with you...but most dims can't put 2 and 2 together)

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

ROFL! OK!

calgov2002:

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[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

The green line is "available resources". Note that the red line (actual demand) went way higher than the blue line (planned/anticipated demand). I suppose around 2 or 3 p.m. it looked like the skyrocketing red was going to cross the green within an hour or two. Luckily for CAL-ISO and Gray Davis, it leveled off before it did, and resources held. But if one big trunk went down... nasty.

Now the interesting thing to ponder is whether the red line flattened out because temperatures moderated or because the Level 1 Alert went into effect, necessitating shutdowns by big industrial users and so on. The temperatures sure haven't moderated much here in Silicon Valley at the time of this posting. It's a roaster today here.

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

"Ya know, I almost hope we have a bunch of rolling blackouts early this summer just to remind the voters and help along the recall."

One of the reasons Davis succeeded in getting re-elected was the mild summer last year. The brownouts and outages of the previous year were a dim memory.

Hey Gray: doesn't look like this is your year.

[WestCoastGal]

We're in the Palm Springs area which is definitely the desert!! I ask myself every summer "What the heck am I doing here?"

[JustAmy]

My air conditioner is on!!!

[RightOnTheLeftCoast]

From http://www.caiso.com/awe/systemstatus.html: Note that at 3:01 p.m., large users were ordered to "reduce demand to minimum requirements". That's right where the curve flattens.

Slam dunk.



STAGE 1 EMERGENCY NOTICE [200301369]

The California Independent System Operator is implementing Stage 1 of the Electrical Emergency Plan for the period 05/28/2003 15:00 through 05/28/2003 20:00.

The CAISO is continuing to request additional Supplemental Energy bids during this period. The Plan has been implemented for the following reason(s):

Loss of Generation; Loss of Transmission; Extreme High or
Low Temperatures throughout the Region; Insufficient Resources

Participating Transmission Owners are to notify the Utility Distribution Companies within their operational areas.

Stage 1: Operating reserves are currently, or forecast to be, less than minimum. Advise the Utility Distribution Company of potential power shortages and request the UDC to advise end-use customers to reduce demand to minimum requirements without disruption of employment or curtailment of industrial production or commerce.
Advise the UDC to prepare for possible implementation of interruptible load programs and/or electrical emergency plan.

This message is from Market Operations at the California ISO.



Notice issued at: 05/28/2003 15:01

[homeschool mama]

My sister lived there for years..I could never figure out why. Redlands was hot enough, but PS! gasp. On the flip side though, it's gorgeous in the 'winter'. Back in the early 80's it snowed in PS..were you there for that? It was freaky.