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California’s grid operator is asking customers to limit electricity use during peak hours to help keep power flowing as a “heat dome” settles over the southwestern U.S. But they were warned of this months ago. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) warned in May that California faced “significant risk of encountering operating conditions that could result in operating reserve shortfalls.” Expected power demand is expected to outstrip California’s available generating capacity by about 5,000 megawatts on Tuesday, according to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO).

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's electricity grid operator issued a state-wide alert on Thursday warning users to try and curb power usage in coming days because a fast-approaching, major heat wave may place undue strain on an already taxed network this week. The exceptionally rare power warning -- its first in years -- from the most populous state in the country comes as California struggles to meet surging electricity demand. The California Independent System Operation, or CAISO, a not-for-profit corporation charged with operating the majority of the state's high-voltage grid, issued a "flex" alert urging consumers to reduce power usage...

With fires still causing concern among California power grid operators, this week brings high heat that may lead to near-record electricity demand throughout the state, the grid manager said on Monday. The California Independent System Operator asked consumers to curb their power use in the peak 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. period Tuesday through Thursday as the grid nears capacity. The Cal ISO manages lines owned by the three big investor-owned utilities that handle 80 percent of the state's power flow. "This is going to be the first significant heat wave of the summer," said Cal ISO spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle....

The California ISO hereby issues a Southern CA Region TRANSMISSION EMERGENCY Notice for loss of a major transmission line within the Southern |portion of the CAISO Control Area effective 12/21/2005 11:36 through 12/21/2005 23:59 based on conditions as of 12/21/2005 11:41. Reason: Major transmission line forced out of service. Monitor system conditions on the California ISO Website at www.caiso.com and check with local electric utilities for additional information. This message was sent by Market Operations at the California ISO.

State power authorities are calling for conservation of electricity in the Southern California area following a surge in demand due to hot, humid weather. The Independent System Operator, which oversees much of California's power grid, issued a 'Flex Your Power Now" alert for the Southern California to remain in effect until 7 p.m., said Stephanie McCorkle, ISO spokeswoman. The warning is one step from a stage one power emergency when reserves drop below 7 percent. Although temperatures in much of Southern California are only in the low 90s, record humidity is driving power use. The San Diego area, for instance,...

Restricted Maintenance Operations [200401436] 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 07/20/2004 07:00 through 07/20/2004 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.

<p>Electric power dispatchers for the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the nonprofit agency that runs much of the state's electric grid, anxiously gathered in the afternoon hours in the control center in Folsom last Monday.</p> <p>The news was not good. Unseasonably hot weather was rapidly shrinking margins between demand and available power. The demand was rising faster than anticipated in Southern California, and, although power plants had been ordered earlier to ramp up their production levels, they could not keep pace. As a result, a critical transmission line was in danger of becoming overloaded. CAISO was forced to order Southern California Edison to initiate a 20-minute rolling blackout involving some 70,000 customers in an effort to prevent the failure of the key transmission line potentially yielding far worse impacts than a rolling blackout.</p>

<p>Felipe Baca tries to cool off after a racket ball game in San Jose's Backesto Park on a hot Monday afternoon.</p> <p>When warmer-than-expected temperatures prompted California's energy grid operators to declare a power alert last week, they quickly stressed that the warning was not a harbinger of things to come.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO(AP) - The board of California's electricity grid approved a new set of rules designed to help it stop market manipulation Thursday.</p> <p>The Independent System Operator board of governors will submit the rules to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for final approval, said board chairman Michael Kahn.</p>

WECC Daily Report of System StatusOther Comments: CISO operated below reliability criteria for spinning reserve from 1334 to 1358 yesterday, to a minimum reserve level of 208 MW below the required level due to market entities deviating from schedule in an attempt to chase market clearing price.Monday’s Notable Events: PDCI Pole #3 blocked (restarts set to zero for hold order), Fort Rock series capacitors inserted and Grand Coulee Transit Excitation Boost operated. COI went over the limit of 3780 MW north to south @ 1112. BPA and CISO ramped in counter schedules for a total of 950 MW and COI...

<p>The Governor's Office insists he should have power to appoint its board.</p> <p>Further escalating the state-federal dispute over who should run California's power grid, federal regulators went to court Friday to try to force the Independent System Operator to create a new governing board.</p>

<p>At the urging of Gov. Gray Davis, California's Independent System Operator voted Wednesday to ignore the nation's top energy regulator's order to disband and replace the current California ISO board.</p> <p>The 4-0 vote was another step in the long-running battle between Davis and other California Democratic officials and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which has a majority of Republicans appointed by President Bush.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO -- Two-time presidential candidate H. Ross Perot said Thursday his company warned California's energy officials about flaws in its deregulated market.</p> <p>A state Senate committee is investigating the role of Texas-based Perot Systems in California's power crisis. The computer company helped launch California's electricity markets.</p>

Here is the Caiso stituation graph for today, 11 July 2002:

Well, this will get us started on this hot subject today in California. Casio graphic link: (Casio Power Status Link)

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...