PG&E to implement rotatin outages for Bay area

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[Fair Use: For Educational and Research Purposes Only] CAISO Directs Pacific Gas and Electric Company to Implement Rotating Outages Due to Record-Breaking Temperatures in Bay Area

Story Filed: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 6:29 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO, Jun 14, 2000 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The California Independent System Operation (CAISO) has initiated localized electric curtailments in the Bay Area due to record-breaking temperatures and the unavailability of generation. At the direction of the CAISO, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has begun implementing rotating outages throughout the Bay Area in order to maintain electric service to customers that provide essential public safety services, such as hospitals and fire stations.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company began rotating "block" outages in order to meet the CAISO's need for 100 megawatts of relief. A block of customers is equal to approximately 35,000 customers, for 100 megawatts. If the CAISO determines that there is need for additional load shedding, Pacific Gas and Electric Company will cooperate by implementing further outages. Outages for each customer block affected will last for approximately 1-2 hours.

Each Pacific Gas and Electric Company customer's rotating outage block number is shown on their monthly bill. Rotating outage blocks are numbered from 1 through 14. Essential services, such as hospitals, fire departments, police stations, and other vital government functions will not be impacted.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company asks customers to monitor radio and television news to stay abreast of curtailment schedules, which are subject to sudden change.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company urges everyone in Bay Area cities to be very careful during times of power outages. It is possible that traffic lights will not be operating, and congestion on streets could lead to dangerous situations. Pedestrians and motorists are urged to exercise caution.

In areas where service is not being curtailed, the CAISO and Pacific Gas and Electric Company says it is important that customers discontinue all but critical electricity use. Air conditioners should be shut off, the use of washers, dryers and dishwashers postponed, all unnecessary lighting turned off, and any cooking done before noon or after 6 p.m.

Agricultural pumping should be minimized and confined to periods outside the noon to 6 p.m. peak demand time.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company thanks its customers for their cooperation during this curtailment. If customers have specific questions, they can contact the company at 1-800/PGE-5000.

The CAISO is the agency responsible for managing California's power grid. For more information on the CAISO or the electric curtailment program, please visit their website at www.caiso.com or

http://library.northernlight.com/FD20000614190000018.html?cb=0&dx=1006&sc=0#doc

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 14, 2000

Answers

Wednesday June 14, 2000

Involuntary Power Outages Begin In The Bay Area The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which manages power usage throughout the state, has ordered PG&E to implement rotating block outages throughout the Bay Area this afternoon.

PG&E says the outages are necessary to prevent collapse of the electrical power grid.

The rotating outages, which began around 2 p.m., will last one to two hours and cycle among 14 blocks of about 35,000 customers per outage.

Customers can help by using minimal power until after 6 p.m. when the temperatures will begin to drop.

CAISO has issued a Stage One emergency until 7 p.m. for the entire Bay Area because electricity reserves have fallen below 7 percent. A Stage Two emergency will be declared if the reserve falls below 5 percent.

The city of Santa Clara's utility, Silicon Valley Power, has already reached a Stage Three emergency, which means involuntary, rolling blackouts.

For more information on the electric curtailment program, visit CAISO's Web site.

http://www1.caiso.com/thegrid/

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 14, 2000.


Correct URL for above answer post.

http://www.newsdirectory.com/go/?f=&r=ca&u=www.kgo.com

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 14, 2000.


Extreme heat being blamed on all the power shortages? Just like the extreme cold snap last winter. (Which lasted 3-4 days!) We are suppose to believe anything, I guess. Why is 2000 so different from all the other years? Summer has not even began! Scary situation, if you ask me.

-- Ruth Angell (bar@bpsinet.com), June 15, 2000.

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