3 Hearings in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno Examine California's Fragile Electricity Future

Energy Commission: 3 Hearings in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno Examine California's Fragile Electricity Future

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Sep 30, 2004 PRNewswire

With an aging fleet of power plants, bottlenecks in its overburdened transmission system and ever- increasing demand, California could encounter electricity shortages as early as next year, according to the California Energy Commission. The impacts of these critical issues on the State's electricity supply and reliability -- particularly in Southern California -- will be discussed in three remaining California Energy Commission hearings to be held in the next week in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno. A total of five hearings are being held to get information for the Commission's Integrated Energy Policy Report.

When: Friday, October 1, 2004 Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Where: California Energy Commission Hearing Room A 1516 9th Street Sacramento, California When: Tuesday, October 5, 2004 Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Where: Ronald Reagan State Building Auditorium 300 South Spring Street Los Angeles, California When: Friday, October 8, 2004 Beginning at 10:30 a.m. Where: Fresno State Building, Room 1036 2550 Mariposa Mall Fresno, California

Audio from these hearings will be broadcast over the Internet at: www.energy.ca.gov/webcast

Issues: All three hearings will examine the effects that the State's aging power plants will have on electricity, given their inefficiencies, environmental impacts and questionable reliability. Accelerating the development of renewable energy projects also will be discussed, as well as options to effectively upgrade the State's transmission system. These topics are the subjects of three draft staff papers that are on-line, along with the 2004 Draft Committee Energy Report Update, at: www.energy.ca.gov/2004_policy_update/documents

Background:

The Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) serves as the foundation for energy policy for California. As mandated by law, the California Energy Commission must submit the report to the Governor and the Legislature every two years, with yearly updates. The IEPR Committee, headed by Energy Commissioner John Geesman, is holding a total of five public hearings to discuss key issues presented in the 2004 Draft Committee Energy Report Update. The hearings are being held in San Francisco, September 29; San Diego, September 30; Sacramento, October 1; Los Angeles, October 5; and Fresno, October 8.

SOURCE California Energy Commission

Rob Schlichting of California Energy Commission, +1-916-654-4989

http://www.energy.ca.gov

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