I also just saw an interesting article in the Oakland Trib.
http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82%7E10834%7E2050789,00.html
Power officials show concern
By Alan Zibel, BUSINESS WRITER
With temperatures rising to more than 90 degrees in Southern California and a spate of power plant outages hitting that part of the state, power officials Monday issued the first electricity emergency of the year.
Still, experts have not predicted any major power problems for this summer, but have said the state could face a power shortage as early as 2006.
"I don't think that this is necessarily an omen about this summer," said Gregg Fishman, spokesman for the California Independent System Operator, which runs most of the state's power grid. "But it certainly should be at least a little bit of a message ... that we're still not fat and happy."
Power grid officials called a Stage One emergency at 1:50 p.m. Monday. That kind of alert -- the least severe of three stages -- was issued because the state's reserve supply of power dipped below 7 percent. Issuing the alert gave state power grid officials increased control over owners of power plants and transmission lines.
Power grid officials lifted the Stage One emergency at 7:59 p.m. The problem was expected to ease today, with forecasts calling for temperatures to cool off and scattered showers in Northern California.
Power officials blamed the Stage One emergency, the first since May 28 of last year, on temperatures that were 10 degrees higher than forecast in Southern California, causing statewide demand to rise about 1,100 megawatts higher than forecast -- enough to supply about 825,000 homes.
They also said 770 megawatts of power supplies -- enough for about 575,000 homes -- dropped out of service Monday morning in Southern California. No problems were reported in Northern California.
Power authorities called on the public to conserve energy by avoiding the use of heavy electrical appliances between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and setting thermostats at 78 degrees or more.
Power emergencies and calls to conserve energy became a routine part of Californians' lives during the state's energy crisis three years ago.
The state's power situation has improved since then, with prices stabilizing and new power plants alleviating shortages.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=California%20Heat
LOS ANGELES -- Unseasonably warm temperatures set records across Southern California Monday and contributed to an electrical emergency caused when the state's power reserves dropped suddenly.
Dozens of records were broken, including highs of 89 degrees at Los Angeles International Airport and 97 degrees at the University of California at Riverside. Bakersfield had its hottest March day on record, reaching 94 degrees.
Increased demand caused electricity reserves to fall, prompting a minor emergency and recommendations that customers reduce use of air conditioners and other appliances.
The agency that manages much of the state's power grid saw electricity use surpass projections by 1,100 megawatts. A megawatt can supply power to about 1,000 homes.
Higher temperatures contributed to the problem but did not account for all the increased demand, officials said.
"Probably what we're seeing is an increase in growth due to the economy rebounding," said Stephanie McCorkle, a spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator.
The agency announced a Stage 1 emergency, the least serious of three levels used to classify electrical problems. Stage 2 involves interruption of service to selected utility customers. Stage 3 requires rolling blackouts to keep the system from collapse.
No blackouts were expected, but Southern California Edison urged its 12 million customers to conserve by setting thermostats to 78 degrees, turning off unnecessary lights and avoiding using washers and other appliances until evening.