CA: Edison issues power alert

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Edison issues power alert Published Monday, July 10, 2000 By Chris Nguyen

Staff Writer

Set the thermostat to 78 degrees. Use fans in the evening instead of air conditioning. Switch off the lights when nobody's in a room.

That's what the Southern California Edison Co. advises to circumvent a possible energy shortage this summer because of high temperatures, a population increase and a lack of power plants in the state.

"I think it's going to be tight this summer and next summer," said Ronald Nunnally, Edison's director of federal regulation and contracts. "At the same time, we're trying to implement conservation programs. The extreme temperatures can push us to the shortage."

As summer temperatures soar, Nunnally said there's a 5 percent chance Edison will be unable to meet the needs of some of its 4.3 million business and household customers, affecting about 11 million to 12 million people in 10 counties, including San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange.

Hot weather is only one factor that could cause the possible energy crisis.

Nunnally also blames the state's shortage of power plants, especially at a time when Edison and other utility companies have an increasing number of customers. The energy crunch, however, should eventually ease.

In about 18 months, five new power plants will open in California. Another 14 are planned.

Meanwhile, residents and businesses are trying to reduce electric bills while helping Edison dodge an energy crisis.

Mary Butrick said she runs a tight ship as director of operations at the American Red Cross in San Bernardino.

When there's a light on, she turns it off. The thermostat is set at 78 degrees, as Edison advises, and the air conditioning is automatically shut off at 4:30 p.m. weekdays when employees leave for the day.

"I'm the one who gets to the bills, so I like to see the bills as low as possible," Butrick said.

"We usually try to cut down as much as possible. I walk around, and every time I see a light on I turn it off. It drives me crazy when someone leaves the lights on in a room."

Butrick said the organization's summer electric bill is $1,500 to $1,800. It's $500 to $600 in the winter.

There's a chance consumers such as the American Red Cross will see lower electric bills in two years.

In 1998, deregulation of the nation's utility companies opened up more competition.

It forced companies such as Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric to stop producing energy and instead only supply it.

That paved the way for more private companies to build power plants, such as the ones under construction.

Deregulation froze electricity rates for four years, until April 2002. At the time, Edison customers got a 10 percent reduction on their bills based on 1996 rates.

When the freeze is lifted in 2002, Edison customers will likely enjoy an additional 5 percent to 6 percent reduction in their electric bills, said spokesman Gil Alexander.

A homeowner now pays an average of $57.25 a month, Alexander said. After April 2002, the bill could be as low as $54.35, he said.

The possible power shortage this summer stems from power plants failing to produce enough energy.

Two weeks ago, for example, a 103-degree heat wave forced blackouts in the Francisco Bay Area after generators failed.

But Edison officials say the blackouts haven't been forced upon Southern California in more than a decade. They say the "involuntary blackouts" won't occur if consumers conserve energy.

The West San Bernardino County Water District has pitched in to help ease the potential crisis.

The district only uses its water pumps during off-peak hours, said Director Joseph Raden. That's before 11 a.m. and after 6 p.m. weekdays.

As another safety net, the district last month installed an emergency generator at the water treatment plant in Rialto.

Home Town Buffet in Rialto also is stepping up to the plate, said community representative Denise Jackson.

The kitchen staff starts work at 6 a.m. daily. But the restaurant doesn't turn on the air conditioning until 11 a.m., when customers arrive.

http://www.dailybulletin.com/cgi-bin/LiveIQue.acgi$rec=68343?anews

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), July 10, 2000


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