Major Power-System Losses Hit the Southwest; Grid Operators Avert Westwide Cascading Outages

News Data Corp, California Energy Markets ^ | June 18, 2004 | John Edwards

[Robert357]

It is going to be interesting to see what kind of blackout California has this summer. The Cal ISO pulled one out of the fire this time. I am amazed. Maybe with the firing of management and other changes the Cal ISO will get its act together. I hope so. This was a close call, very close, too close!

With Palo Verde down, I expect the California will be even more "on the edge" for the next few weeks.

[Robert357]

While we were all distracted by Enron, some real stuff was happening.

Looks like California avoided a major Blackout one week ago. Strange how I didn't see this covered in the media that was obsessed with Enron? Oh well I guess there isn't much politics in this!!!

[AZamericonnie]

The last thing we need in AZ in June is for the A/C's to stop running!

[BipolarBob]

Actually switches operate in milliseconds to control the UV. No way could human intervention have prevented this. Good maintenance on sub-station equipment is the key.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Major league meltdown if it happened in Missouri. Fortunately, we have plenty of cheap hydro from Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Dam.

[Paleo Conservative]

I'm glad Texas has its own power grid. You never hear about the Texas grid going down.

[Kackikat]

Whewww!

[Calpernia]

ping

[BJungNan]

I guess there is something to be said for having to look at these things in my back yard

[markman46]

ya and your neighboors will raise HE** with you for the eye sore in your yard.

[BJungNan]

And if you have one of these, you don't need to worry about it at all.

[MeekOneGOP]

[HungarianGypsy]

My mother-in-law works at Palo Verde. She was off work last Monday when the system went down. I teased her that every time she's off work one of the grids goes down. She asked if it had been reported, but apparently the reason the grid went down was because a bird pooped on a line. Big bird, I guess.

[Little Bill]

Sounds like a big suck to the West, isn't Palo Verde an export hub?

[BJungNan]

ya and your neighboors will raise HE** with you for the eye sore in your yard.

They are already here. Thousands of them. Not in my yard exactly but close enough to keep the juice flowing in our neighborhood. If you look at the valley floor just below the snow on the peak you can make out the windmills.

Besides, the views are not all bad.

[BossLady]

Heck, it's about 90 today in Reno, NV cannot imagine how hot it's gotta be in AZ!!!

[lelio]

but apparently the reason the grid went down was because a bird pooped on a line. Big bird, I guess.

Where did something similiar like this happen twice in one week to the same grid / line? I think it was an airport.

Does this happen because the gap between the lines is bridged? If so I would think that's a common (albeit deadly) occurance, and I'm surprised it doesn't happen everyday.

[AZamericonnie]

cannot imagine how hot it's gotta be in AZ

Should be about 103 today. Although it is truth that low humidity helps you get tired of the phrase "it's a dry heat". So's the oven but it still cooks the chicken! lol

[Solson]

Maintenance by a utility? What's that?

[mtbopfuyn]

I'm glad Texas has its own power grid. You never hear about the Texas grid going down.

Not the whole grid but let a bird land on a wire and it'll go out here every time. Don't get me started on the weekly tv cable service's "but it's sun spots" excuses.