One Year Later And The Lights Are Going Out!
| Y2K One Year Later And The Lights Are Going Out! |
|
But It's Not The Computers Fault!
The biggest part of the Y2K scare was
that the national power grid was going to fail and the world was going to go
dark.
Well not only did the United States stay
lit-up, but so did the rest of the world. Now
a year later, here in California, the lights are going out!
Most of Californians gets their power
from Edison and other large power companies.
Now these companies own and operate their own power plants. However the demand for power is greater then the amount that
these companies can supply at this time. So
these companies must go to outside sources and buy the Energy.
In the case of Edison, the company is getting clobbered by the cost.
It is coasting them more for the Energy then they are allowed to sell it
for.
Now, when you add into the equation the
fact that this is the time of year that power plants take the equipment that
needs maintenance or repair, off line (so they can do the work). and add to
that, that due to a dry winter less water is available to generate power and you
have an equation for a Y2K like nightmare.
No Power!
Now I live in Los Angeles, and like a
few other cities we have the power we need.
In fact Los Angeles has been fortunate enough to be in the position of
selling off some surplus Energy to the rest of California.
In fact this is one of the few times I find myself happy to be living in
LA. But the bottom line is we need
to stop living like pigs.
Wake up and start saving energy. Turn lights off. Get
Energy efficient products. And as
long as I'm on my soap box.... Stop driving gas guzzlers.
Oh, and to the folks I have seen on TV.,
declaring that there is no power shortage and it's just a hoax to drive up you
bills. Go get yourself a keeper.
You are stupid and not capable of caring for yourself.
How
Power Emergencies Work
When reserve capacity for California
energy providers dips below 7 percent of expected demand, they must declare a
power emergency.
STAGE
1
Power reserves between 7% and 5%. First warnings issued.
STAGE
2
Reserves between 5% and 1.5%. Interruptible customers asked to conserve.
STAGE
3
Reserves below 1.5%. Rolling blackouts occur. How Power Emergencies Work
Now Think About This:
Energy demand grows about 2 percent, or 1,000 megawatts, per year.
New power plants cost between $500,000 and $1 million per megawatt of capacity.
California power plants can produce about 55,000 megawatts of power.
California has approved construction of plants with 4,660 megawatts of capacity since deregulation. An additional 16 plants, representing 7,200 megawatts of capacity, are going through the licensing process.
Fifteen percent of power use during peak summer periods in California goes to commercial air conditioners; 14 percent to residential air conditioners.
For more on the California Energy thing:
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| Because It's The Right Thing To Do. | ||
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Last modified: November 08, 2002
