From
http://www.caiso.com/awe/systemstatus.html: Note that at 3:01 p.m., large users were ordered to "reduce demand to minimum requirements". That's right where the curve flattens.
Slam dunk.
STAGE 1 EMERGENCY NOTICE [200301369]
The California Independent System Operator is implementing Stage 1 of the Electrical Emergency Plan for the period 05/28/2003 15:00 through 05/28/2003 20:00.
The CAISO is continuing to request additional Supplemental Energy bids during this period. The Plan has been implemented for the following reason(s):
Loss of Generation; Loss of Transmission; Extreme High or
Low Temperatures throughout the Region; Insufficient Resources
Participating Transmission Owners are to notify the Utility Distribution Companies within their operational areas.
Stage 1: Operating reserves are currently, or forecast to be, less than minimum. Advise the Utility Distribution Company of potential power shortages and request the UDC to advise end-use customers to reduce demand to minimum requirements without disruption of employment or curtailment of industrial production or commerce.
Advise the UDC to prepare for possible implementation of interruptible load programs and/or electrical emergency plan.
This message is from Market Operations at the California ISO.
Notice issued at: 05/28/2003 15:01
Stage 1: Operating reserves are currently, or forecast to be, less than minimum. Advise the Utility Distribution Company of potential power shortages and request the UDC to advise end-use customers to reduce demand to minimum requirements without disruption of employment or curtailment of industrial production or commerce. You would think that end-use customers would be trying to reduce their demand for power since that cuts into the bottom line. Any power that they use would, by definition, be for employment, production, or commerce. Whenever one of these Stage One Alerts or so happens, you are cutting power to the economic engine in California.
I see another budget deficit next year in California. People not working to full capacity or people not spending as much money in commerce cuts down on state tax revenue. And since the DemocRAT controlled legislature (both houses) are not cutting spending...
I find it interesting that they even issued the Stage I. Several times over the past year they were in an alert condition, but failed to call it. Did the CaISO have a regime change?