[NYTr] Calif may cut power to large businesses as energy use soars

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AP via SF Chroncile - Aug 30, 2007
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/08/30/state/n122118D88.DTL


California may cut power to large businesses as energy use soars

By AARON C. DAVIS
Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, (AP) -- California's electricity grid manager warned that
power to large energy consumers is likely to be cut later Thursday to
keep the state's lights on.

The companies that would go dark are a mix of industrial, commercial
and retail businesses that previously agreed to be the first to lose
power during an emergency. In exchange, the companies receive reduced
utility rates.

"Having those customers come off the grid is just as good as adding
power," said Stephanie McCorkle, spokeswoman for the California
Independent System Operator.

Reducing power demand, however, is California's only choice. It cannot
add power because its electricity plants are running at capacity and a
heat wave is stressing power systems throughout the West.

The independent system operator, which manages the flow of energy on
most of California's power grid, plans to declare a minor power
emergency at 2 p.m. Thursday and to increase its alert level to a
so-called Stage 2 emergency at about 4 p.m.

A Stage 2 emergency signals that the state's operating reserves have
fallen below 5 percent. At that point, Pacific Gas and Electric Co.,
Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric Co., the
state's largest investor-owned utilities, begin cutting power to the
large companies with which they have arrangements.

The highest alert level is a Stage 3 emergency, which indicates that
operating reserves have dropped below 1 percent. Rolling blackouts — in
which power is cut to certain regions to avoid a systemwide crash — are
imminent at that stage.

If the state reaches a Stage 2 emergency today, it will be its first
since July 24, 2006, when California set its all-time record energy
demand of 50,270 megawatts. Today's predicted peak demand is 49,572
megawatts.

McCorkle said increased energy conservation by individual consumers
this afternoon could help prevent a Stage 2 emergency.

"We're really stepping up our calls for conservation; they do help,"
she said.

The Independent System Operator suggests setting thermostats at 78
degrees or higher, using fans to cool rooms, turning off unnecessary
lights and shutting off large appliances from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

State officials say those whose health could be compromised should not
put themselves at risk by shutting off air conditioning.

The state also has opened cooling centers at fairgrounds in eight
Central Valley and Southern California counties. They will stay open
until Tuesday, with hot temperatures forecast throughout the Labor Day
weekend.

Most of California's vast Central Valley was expected to have
temperatures well over 100 degrees, with parts of the Los Angeles
region also forecast to hit 100. Much of the San Francisco Bay area was
expected to be warmer than normal.

The state has established a toll-free telephone number to provide
information about cooling centers, 1-877-435-7021.