Cal Stage 1 Power Emergency (Oops Cal ISO did it again!)

California ISO ^ | 3/29/04 | Drudge Report, & Cal ISO

[Robert357]

The California ISO hereby issues a STAGE 1 ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY Notice, effective 03/29/2004 13:50 through 03/29/2004 19:59.

Reason(s):
Due to higher than expected loads and loss of resources South of Path 15.

Operating Reserves are currently, or forecast to be, less than amounts required by the Western Electricity Coordinating Council. If Operating Reserves deplete further, the ISO will declare a Stage 2 Electrical Emergency and may begin curtailing Interruptible Loads*.

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.

[Amerigomag]

A quick look at area temps makes this another SoCal prob.

Demand high in SoCal but excess capacity not available north of Path 15 or Path 15 lost full transport capacity.

At least Path 26 is up.

[George from New England]

"I would be investing in a 5kw generator set"

Calif has so many regulations and laws, you wouldn't be allowed to install let alone run the generator because of pollution controls, noise ordinances, etc.

LOL

[Robert357]

At least Path 26 is up

It is only partially "up." I guess someone needs to invent viagra for power lines, it use to be called reconductoring and new construction or else new generation.

From today's WESC Daily Report....From 0000-2400 the Path 26 is limited to 2,500 MW north to south due to area resource limitation.

http://www.wecc.biz/daily_reports/2004/March/20040329.pdf

[ladyinred]

It's hot where I live in California! But cooling down for a few days starting tomorrow. Can't believe they are already declaring this.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

It is warm, (mildly hot) down here near the beach.

Lossing power today would cause me much trouble.
Putting tests together for tomorrow.

I wonder if Arnoold is aware of this at all?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Amen to that!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Posted the basic content of the ISO note on the California BBS and the title and URL of the thread there also.

[muleskinner]

Signs of the economy heating up in Cal. Last time this happened was during the peak of the dot-com boom.

All those buildings full of servers and PC's. Somebody must be secretly reinstalling.

[BurbankKarl]

well, it is 78 degrees in Seattle....will drop 20 degrees tomorrow...

[Kozak]

Well no problem. All those new power plants should be coming online any day now. Oh wait, I forgot, most of them didn't get built. NIMBY. Better stock up on batteries.

[BurbankKarl]

Currently under construction, the Magnolia Power Project will be a clean, high-efficiency, combined-cycle unit on three acres of the existing Burbank Water & Power generating station complex adjacent to Magnolia Boulevard. Total project cost is estimated to be $215 million, with annual operating costs ranging from $8 million to $10 million, plus natural gas fuel supply. Magnolia Power Project operation will improve regional electric reliability since it will dramatically increase the amount of local generation which is not dependent on long-distance interstate transmission lines. Once in service, the unit is expected to operate in a base-load mode (8,000 hours per year or more) and be staffed by Burbank Water & Power personnel on a 24-hour basis.

[BurbankKarl]

http://www.scppa.org/Magnolia/magnoliaoverview.htm


more info on the project...

[Robert357]

Nice to hear from you, I expect that you get those tests out. I suspect that after what happened a few days ago, the ISO decided to err on the side of caution rather than try to tough things out too long and find out they had painted themselves into a corner.

However, you would expect that they would try to get their act together.

[Robert357]

That is a nice looking power plant, the only problem I would forsee is that price of the natural gas to fuel it.

I had lunch today with a major Aluminum Company power manager (whose aluminum refinery is still operating--since there are only two in the BPA service territory and I know them both very well), that should narrow it down quickly. What he told me was that he thinks it will be quite a while before natural gas prices come down to levels where most folks can afford the resulting power even from very very efficient CCCT's

I talked to the guy in my office who does long term powerplant feasibility studies and helps various utilities secure bonds to allow them to build power plants. He also see natural gas costs as remaining high for quite a while. I would note that about a weak ago, I think I saw were Reliant got into some trouble for overstating its natural gas reserves, if I remember correctly.

You were right about being a hot day in Seattle, it was nice to get outside and have a business lunch. Have fun.

[NormsRevenge]

FRom the Sac Bee

Hot temperatures prompt Stage 1 emergency

By Ralph Montaño -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:50 p.m. PST Monday, March 29, 2004

[Updated at 4:55 p.m.] Unusually hot weather in Southern California led the California Independent System Operator on Monday afternoon to issue a Stage 1 Electrical Emergency for the state.

Power plant operators were being asked to restrict maintenance and keep as many facilities available to meet needs, said Gregg Fishman, a spokesman for California ISO.

"This is specifically related to Southern California's weather," Fishman said. "Our load is as much as 1,100 megawatts over forecast."

Temperatures were soaring Sunday and Monday around San Diego. Record highs in the 90s were set in Riverside, Yorba Linda, Santa Ana and El Cajon on Sunday and remained high Monday.

At the same time, several plants in Southern California were off for maintenance work Monday. Fishman said the upkeep is usually done at this time of year, but the unseasonably warm temperatures have created a strain on the power grid. Restricting maintenance is one of the first steps when power supplies are tight, he added.

Stage 1 is a low-priority emergency. The ISO declares Stage 1 emergencies when reserves fall to between 6 and 7 percent. A Stage 2 emergency is issued when the reserves are at about 5 percent. Stage 3 emergencies -- the most urgent -- occur when reserves fall below 1.5 percent.

Fishman said the weather will determine if more Stage 1 emergencies will be issued this week.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Mother Nature did a trick on us.

So perhaps we had less plants running than we will during the Summer heat.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

[null and void]

So perhaps we had less plants running than we will during the Summer heat.

Perhaps allah and his minions will allow us to have enough power plants, come summer...

[luckystarmom]

Hotter than usual in the South San Jose area. So maybe it's hotter than usual in other parts of the state also.

[tertiary01]

I hear John Kerry's in SF with a hugh motorcade. There goes the price of gas again!!