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Power crisis not in forecast
Jul. 19--By Andrew Silva, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News Many folks would be sweltering in the dark, their computers blank, the refreshing hum of air conditioners silent, if this week's combination of high temperatures and high power demand happened four years ago. As the state flirts with record power demand and a few spots set records for high temperatures, energy providers are confident the lights will stay on, barring some unforeseen glitch in the system. "We do seem to have enough megawatts to meet the demand," said Stephanie McCorkle, spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator, which runs much of the state's power grid. Monday's prediction for a possible record level of demand fell short, thanks to temperatures in other areas that were much lower than expected, the Independent System Operator announced late in the day. Demand topped out at 43,679 megawatts, meaning the record peak demand of 45,597 megawatts set Sept. 8 will stand for now. One megawatt is enough to serve about 750 typical homes, or enough to light 10,000 100-watt bulbs. A record was set Sunday with a demand of 40,405 megawatts, the highest demand ever for a Sunday, and the first time demand exceeded 40,000 megawatts for seven days in a row. The hot-weather demand is nearly 50 percent more than during the mellow days of spring, when the system needs to crank out about 30,000 megawatts. California has added roughly 2 million residents since those uncertain days of the power crisis when office workers nervously tapped "control s' on their computer keyboards every few minutes, as they wondered if the lights would go out. Aside from sorting out any shenanigans that may have gone on thanks to deregulation and questionable power deals, the system itself is in better shape. About 12,000 megawatts of new generating capacity are available, and more than 80 upgrades to the transmission system have improved reliability, despite the population growth, McCorkle said. "We have more ability to import power and to move power around the state,' she said. Officials at Southern California Edison also were not sweating too much. The utility has contracts to provide 15 percent more power than any reasonably anticipated peak demand, said Gary Tarplee, director of network engineering. "We've also spent a significant amount of money to upgrade our transmission capacity,' he said. That improves flexibility to import power from the Pacific Northwest and from the east. Edison also has a significant number of customers on a voluntary program that, for example, would allow the utility to shut off an air conditioner by remote control if power capacity dropped. Customers get a better rate on their power if they participate in the program. No customers have had their power interrupted under the program this year, and it may have been used once or twice last year, Tarplee said. "We're looking really good,' he said of the power outlook. Pleas for conservation also seem to be helping, said McCorkle of the Independent System Operator. It's impossible to gauge exactly how much people are saving by shutting off computers, lights or holding off on that load of laundry until later in the evening, she said, but the demand has seemed to flatten out at times when operators expected it to keep creeping up. Temperatures are expected to remain toasty into the weekend, with highs in the San Bernardino area ranging from the mid-90s to low triple digits, and overnight lows in the mid to high 60s, according to the National Weather Service. The mountains will see highs in the upper 80s and lows in the 60s. ------------ Senior citizens and other residents without air conditioning can call (800) 510-2020 to find the location of a "cooling center" nearby. Heat-related illnesses kill hundreds of people per year.
TIPS TO STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY IN HOT WEATHER: --Drink plenty of fluids. Sorry, but coffee and other caffeinated drinks, sodas and alcoholic beverages are actually counterproductive because they cause your body to lose fluids. If a medical condition limits your ability to drink, talk to your doctor about what to do in hot weather. --Stay indoors with air conditioning if possible. If you don't have air conditioning, even a few hours in a mall, library or senior center can help. --Limit strenuous outdoor activity. If you must be outside, drink plenty of fluids, including sports drinks, which help replace minerals lost in sweat. --Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Wear a wide-brimmed hat. Use sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15. --Never leave anyone, especially children and pets, inside a vehicle. --Check on neighbors without air conditioning if they are in a high-risk group, including the elderly or those with conditions such as heart disease that make them vulnerable. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
APPLIANCE ENERGY USE: --3-ton air conditioner with 10.0 seasonal energy efficiency rating: 3.58 kilowatts per hour --Ceiling fan: 0.08 kilowatts per hour --100-watt incandescent bulb: 0.10 kilowatts per hour --20-cubic-foot refrigerator, built before 1993: 2.92 kilowatts per day --20-cubic-foot refrigerator, built after 1998: 1.27 kilowatts per day --Dishwasher with drying cycle: 1 kilowatt per load --Dishwasher without drying cycle: 0.58 kilowatts per load --Personal computer and monitor: 0.13 kilowatts per hour --Photocopier: 0.19 kilowatts per hour Source: Southern California Edison ----- To see more of the San Bernardino County Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sbsun.com . Copyright (c) 2005, San Bernardino County Sun, Calif. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com. |