California ISO Issues Stage Two Electrical Emergency; Conservation Remains Critical.News Editors/Energy Writers FOLSOM Fol·som adj. Of or relating to a culture that flourished in western North America east of the Rocky Mountains during the late Pleistocene Epoch, notable chiefly for the use of grooved, leaf-shaped flint projectile points. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 8, 2001 The California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). Independent System Operator (California ISO (1) See ISO speed. (2) (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, www.iso.ch) An organization that sets international standards, founded in 1946. The U.S. member body is ANSI. ) declared a Stage Two Electrical Emergency today, Tuesday, May 8, 2001, at 11:15 a.m. with operating reserves In power systems, the operating reserve is the generating capacity available to the system operator within a short interval of time to meet demand in case a generator is lost or there is another disruption to the supply. dipping below five percent. Today's situation is due to a number of factors, including: -- Heat wave continues with inland highs in the mid 90s, causing surge in air conditioner usage. -- A total of 12,500 megawatts worth of generation remains unavailable today with power plants off-line because of preventative repairs and plant malfunctions. -- Four nuclear units are offline in the western U.S. for refueling or repairs. -- Approximately 1400 megawatts of generation from the state's qualifying facilities (QFs) remain unavailable to the state's grid. Consumers are asked to step up conservation efforts as the California ISO's job of balancing the supply and demand for power becomes more challenging this afternoon and into the evening peak hours peak hours npl, peak period n → horas fpl punta peak hours peak npl → heures fpl d'affluence or de pointe . With conditions expected to remain tight throughout the day, a teleconference update has been scheduled for this afternoon.
TIMES (ALL PST): 1:30 p.m. with additional times TBD
PHONE NUMBER: 800/374-1387
PASSCODE: ISO News
Demand across the California ISO Control Area is expected to peak at 34,469 megawatts around 4:00 p.m. this afternoon. Today's Stage Two Emergency is in effect until midnight. With the Stage Two declaration, the California ISO is able to access emergency resources that will help maintain operating reserves. A Stage Two Emergency is declared when operating reserves dip below five percent or are expected to within the next two hours. If an operating reserve shortfall Shortfall The amount by which the capital required to fulfill a financial obligation exceeds available capital. Notes: Shortfall risk is often combated with an efficient hedging strategy created by a fund, group, institution, or individual. of less than one-and-a-half percent is unavoidable, Stage Three will be initiated. Involuntary involuntary adj. or adv. without intent, will, or choice. Participation in a crime is involuntary if forced by immediate threat to life or health of oneself or one's loved ones, and will result in dismissal or acquittal. INVOLUNTARY. curtailments of service to customers, including "rotating ro·tate v. ro·tat·ed, ro·tat·ing, ro·tates v.intr. 1. To turn around on an axis or center. 2. blackouts," are possible during this emergency declaration. Should rotating outages be necessary today, media is reminded of a new communication vehicle available on the California ISO's website (www.caiso.com). Please access the Systems Conditions page (logo on the left) for up-to-the-minute information about outages called within the state. The California ISO is charged with managing the flow of electricity along the long-distance, high-voltage power lines that make up the bulk of California's transmission system. The not-for-profit Not-for-profit An organization established for charitable, humanitarian, or educational purposes that is exempt from some taxes and in which no one in profits or losses. public-benefit corporation assumed the responsibility in March, 1998, when California opened its energy markets to competition and the state's investor-owned utilities turned their private transmission power lines over to the California ISO to manage. The mission of the California ISO is to safeguard the reliable delivery of electricity, facilitate markets and ensure equal access to a 25,526 circuit mile "electron highway." Information about the California ISO control area's electricity supply and the current demand is available on the web at www.caiso.com. Other helpful contacts: Pacific Gas and Electric, 415/973-5930 Southern California Edison, 626/302-2255 San Diego Gas and Electric, 877/866-2066 |
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