California ISO Issues Stage One Power Alert!

Cal ISO ^ | 07/09/02 | Cal ISO

[socal_parrot]

All notices should be confirmed with the appropriate operating personnel prior to taking any action.

Current Active Notice(s)

        STAGE 1 EMERGENCY NOTICE [200201305]

The California Independent System Operator is implementing Stage 1 of the Electrical Emergency Plan for the period 07/09/2002 14:40 through 07/09/2002 19:00.

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

The California ISO has declared a Stage 1 Emergency. This is due to Extreme High Temperatures throughout the Region. Voluntary load curtailment is requested between 14:40 and 19:00 hours.

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: 07/09/2002 14:34

---------------------------------- DISCLAIMER -------------------------------------- This CAISO notice is based on the current conditions of the transmission grid system. While this CAISO notice reflects the most current information available to the CAISO, because transmission grid system conditions are subject to sudden and rapid change without warning, the accuracy of this notice cannot be assured. This CAISO notice is provided solely for informational purposes. Reliance by any party on the contents of this CAISO notice, regardless of any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, and/or subsequent changed conditions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action against the CAISO. Any recipient's decisions or actions that may be based in any way whatsoever on the contents of this CAISO notice shall be the sole responsibility of the recipient. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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SYSTEM WARNING NOTIFICATION [200201304]

For the period 07/09/2002 14:20 through 07/09/2002 19:00 the ISO is predicting deficiencies in Operating Reserve.

Due to high than expected loads and temperatures across the ISO Control Area today.

The ISO is issuing a "Warning" notice and is requesting additional Supplemental Energy bids during this period.

This message is from Market Operations at the California ISO.

Notice issued at: 07/09/2002 14:20

---------------------------------- DISCLAIMER -------------------------------------- This CAISO notice is based on the current conditions of the transmission grid system. While this CAISO notice reflects the most current information available to the CAISO, because transmission grid system conditions are subject to sudden and rapid change without warning, the accuracy of this notice cannot be assured. This CAISO notice is provided solely for informational purposes. Reliance by any party on the contents of this CAISO notice, regardless of any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, and/or subsequent changed conditions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action against the CAISO. Any recipient's decisions or actions that may be based in any way whatsoever on the contents of this CAISO notice shall be the sole responsibility of the recipient. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Restricted Maintenance Operations [200201303]

The ISO is anticipating high loads and temperatures across the ISO Control Area.

The California ISO is declaring Restricted Maintenance Operations for the period from 07/09/2002 06:00 through 07/09/2002 22:00.

Restricted maintenance operations, as detailed in ISO Operating Procedure E-509, will be in effect.

Market participants are cautioned to avoid actions, which may unnecessarily jeopardize generator availability.

This message is from Market Operations at the California ISO.

Notice issued at: 07/08/2002 16:40

---------------------------------- DISCLAIMER -------------------------------------- This CAISO notice is based on the current conditions of the transmission grid system. While this CAISO notice reflects the most current information available to the CAISO, because transmission grid system conditions are subject to sudden and rapid change without warning, the accuracy of this notice cannot be assured. This CAISO notice is provided solely for informational purposes. Reliance by any party on the contents of this CAISO notice, regardless of any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, and/or subsequent changed conditions shall not be made the basis for any claim, demand or cause for action against the CAISO. Any recipient's decisions or actions that may be based in any way whatsoever on the contents of this CAISO notice shall be the sole responsibility of the recipient. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Robert357]

Tell the Simons campaign that this was much more serious than a Stage 1 Alert, it was a Stage 1 Emergency. That is a big difference. The press release needs to be expanded upon, check out some of the later threads for more information.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks so much!

We have got to keep those RATS honest!!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

That seems like a good professional letter of interest to me!

[Carry_Okie]

Frankly from what you describe it was into Stage 2 Emergency. I agree, it was too quiet. There were sporadic outages all over the Bay Area. Even KGO was expressing some disbelief that they were ISOlated events when there was no official announcement.

[CyberAnt]

He should be sweating because HE STOPPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE THAN 10 MORE ELECTRICITY GENERATING STATIONS WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY APPROVED.

We must get rid of this guy - and quickly!

[Gophack]

Gray Davis will do ANYTHING to keep the power on. He'll spend any money to ensure that there are no blackouts. You know it. We are in such tight fiscal straights as it is ... it's only going to get worse, and Bill Simon is going to have to clean up a HUGE financial mess.

[Gophack]

You know, this would be really mean, but it's civil disobedience, right?

Wouldn't it be interesting to find out what would happen if everyone turned on all the lights and air conditioning at, say, 4:30 p.m. tomorrow? And vacuum? I don't think residential use impacts it much ... I think it's mostly business use. I could be wrong. Anyway, one blackout would serve Davis right ... considering how he WASTED $12 billion of our tax dollars last year, then committed us to $43 billion in long term contracts that my kids will be paying off.

DUMP DAVIS!!!!!!

[sheik yerbouty]

He should be cast out, along with his Caliban.

[snopercod]

The generators have "exciters" [analagous to the voltage regulator on your automobile] which make them pull harder or slack off a bit. The control system for the exciter monitors the grid frequency, and load demand signals. Most spin at 3600 RPM, although the big nukes can spin at 1800.

IOW, it's all magic.

[snopercod]

I think you got the stages backwards. I was confused myself, but here's the answer I got back when I asked Cal-ISO "Why was no Stage III or Stage II alert posted prior to the Stage I?"

"Stage 2 and 3 emergencies are declared AFTER stage 1 emergencies.'

[snopercod]

Let's not forget that the stage 1 alert triggers the FERC mitigation scheme "price caps". That's probably not a factor with prices as low as they are, but it could become one.

[John Robinson]

I'll have to look into this. I think it's about time we put those bump lists to rest now anyway... they should probably be converted to at least keywords.

[MrNeutron1962]

Actually the exciter voltage only controls reactive power, actual steam admission to the turbine control real power. Yes its all mostly magic. Most large steam turbines spin at 1800 RPM, as they are two pole machines. Most combustion turbines have reducing gear, as they spin at 5000 to 6000 rpm, with some of the older machines spinning even higher. Most diesels are four pole machines and spin at 900 rpm, and most hydro turbines have a large number of poles, some as many as 36, as they spin at well under 400 rpm. I want to say hoover dams turbines spin at 180 rpm, making them 20 pole machines.

[Dog Gone]

I am certainly looking forward to seeing the response you get to your email.

[Grampa Dave]

I just got a flash warning from my weather providing service re super hot heat today:

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URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO CA
615 AM PDT WED JUL 10 2002

SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES-NAPA COUNTY-
ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES-SANTA CLARA COUNTY-
SALINAS VALLEY/INTERIOR MONTEREY COUNTY/SAN BENITO COUNTY-
615 AM PDT WED JUL 10 2002

...HEAT ADVISORY TODAY FOR INLAND PORTIONS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AND
MONTEREY BAY AREAS...

HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY ARE FORECAST TO REACH OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES
ACROSS MUCH OF THE INLAND SECTIONS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AND MONTEREY
BAY AREAS. INLAND TEMPERATURES ACROSS MONTEREY COUNTY COULD TOP OUT
AT 115 OR A LITTLE HIGHER. THESE SIZZLING TEMPERATURES WILL BE A FEW
DEGREES ABOVE THE VERY HOT READINGS RECORDED ON TUESDAY. HOTTEST
READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO ONCE AGAIN OCCUR ACROSS INLAND AREAS...WITH
MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES NEAR THE IMMEDIATE COAST.

TODAY SHOULD BE THE HOTTEST DAY OF THE WEEK...BUT VERY WARM WEATHER
IS EXPECTED INLAND THROUGH FRIDAY...WITH A SLOW COOLING TREND
FORECAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AS THE STRONG HIGH ALOFT RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS HEAT WAVE MOVES EAST.

A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHENEVER HIGH TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO
MEET OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES OVER A LARGE AREA.

TEMPERATURES IN CARS CAN REACH 150 DEGREES IN LESS THAN 20
MINUTES... AND EVEN A FEW MINUTES AT THESE TEMPERATURES CAN BE
LETHAL. CHILDREN AND PETS SHOULD NEVER BE LEFT UNATTENDED IN
VEHICLES.

OTHER IMPORTANT GUIDELINES...

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE CURTAILED DURING THIS HOT WEATHER. DRINK
PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS. CHILDREN...THE ELDERLY...AND PEOPLE
WITH CHRONIC AILMENTS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST TO SUFFER FROM THE HEAT.
HEAT EXHAUSTION...CRAMPS...OR IN EXTREME CASES...HEAT STROKE...CAN
RESULT FROM PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HOT CONDITIONS. FRIENDS...
RELATIVES OR NEIGHBORS SHOULD CHECK ON PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AT RISK.

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Stay cool out there.

Carry, see all the global warming you have caused with home schooling, thining your brush and putting used concrete around your property.

Answers to your questions about this email at: http://www.my-cast.com/faq_severe.htm

[Grampa Dave]

Hack posted, "Wouldn't it be interesting to find out what would happen if everyone turned on all the lights and air conditioning at, say, 4:30 p.m. tomorrow? And vacuum? I don't think residential use impacts it much.

Actually I think there is a lot more impact at that time, 12 pm to 6 pm, than we think there is. Industry is the biggest user, but 30 million + Kalis have an impact.

I have a time of use meter with PG&E. We get a really good rate except from noon to 6 pm. When we had this meter installed, about 2 decades ago, we are fairly positive that the high rate time was noon to 5 pm.

So we waited until a little after 5pm to fire up the heavy duty home appliances. During the Davis blackout season last year, I got a call from a nice lady at PG&E. She had some real time useage data from our meter. She said that if we would wait until 6 pm instead of 5 pm to start the heavy duty electrical stuff we could save a lot of money. She was correct. My wife feels that was change from 5 to 6 pm.

I would not be paying more for our electrical useage from noon to 6 if residential users did not have an impact.

[Grampa Dave]

Liz posted, One of the best kept secrets is how this recession in Kali has resulted in massive reductions in electrical useage by businesses that closed their doors or are operating less hours than in 2000. On-target, gramps. Gotta get the word out. CBS-News (surprise) did a segment on this topic.

Is there anyway you can followup on that CBS report for some hard data like an oped and a link to it.

One of our former lurkers on this section helped to prepare a study for some Wall Street Firm that showed that the Davis caused recession kept us from having blackouts. Apparently it was an inhouse study and not ready for release.

I think that this issue could be like have grenades to throw at the socialist/enviralists like Davis by the Simon people.

[Liz]

CBS Feb story link below. The one I mentioned yesterday apparently hasn't been archived yet.




http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/02/13/national/main329304.shtml

[Robert357]

Frankly from what you describe it was into Stage 2 Emergency. I agree, it was too quiet. There were sporadic outages all over the Bay Area. Even KGO was expressing some disbelief that they were ISOlated events when there was no official announcement.

Just so you don't feel alone, I wrote an email to the SF Chronicle and got the following email back from them.

Bob:

Thanks for writing. I'll pass this along to Karen at the AP. The lines on the Cal-ISO chart did get alarmingly close at 3 p.m. yesterday; I don't know why they didn't go to stage 2.

-- Vlae Kershner, news director, SF Gate

Maybe somebody somewhere will send an investigative reporter to find out what really happened at the ISO.

[Gophack]

Good point. Boy, I should get one of those things. We're never home noon to six. I'd probably save money. But I have SMUD for power, PGE for gas only.