STAGE 2 EMERGENCY NOTICE [200000083]

Effective 07/31/2000 at 14:01 the California Independent System Operator is implementing Stage 2 of the Electrical Emergency Plan. The Plan has been implemented for the following reason(s):

Stage 2 is expected to be in effect from Hour Ending 15 through Hour Ending 20.

Participating transmission owners are to notify the Utility Distribution Companies within their operational areas.

Stage 2: Operating reserves are expected to fall below 5%. The UDC will implement interruptible service programs AS DIRECTED BY THE ISO and will take all additional actions necessary in preparation for immediate implementation of electrical emergency plans and await further orders from the ISO.

This message is from Market Operations (916-351-2494) at the California ISO.

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), July 31, 2000

Answers

UPDATE 2-Calif. upgrades power grid emergency Updated 5:51 PM ET July 31, 2000 By Leonard Anderson SAN FRANCISCO, (Reuters) - With sizzling temperatures and soaring demand for electricity to run air conditioners straining the California power grid, the state's Independent System Operator (ISO) declared a Stage Two emergency Monday afternoon in a bid to conserve already tight supplies.

The ISO, which operates most of the California transmission system, said it asked the state's major utilities to interrupt the flow of power to large industrial customers. These customers pay discounted electric rates on the understanding they may be turned off during emergencies.

The Stage Two emergency, which is ordered when power reserves fall below five percent, followed a Stage One declared earlier Monday from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. PDT. A Stage One asks utility customers to voluntarily reduce their use of electricity.

The Stage Two was to go into effect at 3:00 p.m. and last to 8:00 p.m. PDT.

It was the sixth time since May 1 that the grid operator has been forced to declare a Stage Two emergency in California.

The ISO said it urged interruptible customers to wait to shed their electrical load until told to do so by their local utility.

"Electricity imports from neighboring states are scarce because the power is needed to serve customers within their own regions," the ISO said in a statement.

Peak demand on the ISO system Monday was expected to exceed 45,629 megawatts (MW), close to the record demand on the grid of 45,884 MW on July 12, 1999.

Earlier, the ISO issued another "Power Watch" for Monday as much of the west baked under a third day of heat.

The ISO said Friday that it expected to import about 4,400 MW of electricity from the Pacific Northwest to meet high demand in California. The ISO, however, also said Friday that it did not expect imports from the Southwest to be available Monday.

High temperatures in the west were expected to persist through mid- week, then begin falling.

In the central valley of California, Fresno was seen reaching a high of 106 degrees F Monday and 110 Tuesday, while Sacramento was seen peaking at 104 Monday and 109 Tuesday, Weather Services Corp. said.

In Phoenix, Ariz., temperatures were forecast to reach 112 Monday and 108 Tuesday, while Las Vegas, Nev. readings were expected to reach 107-108, WSC said.

In Los Angeles temperatures were seen reaching a high of 80 degrees Monday and 79 Tuesday, although it was expected to be significantly hotter in nearby valley communities with cities such as Pasadena expected to see triple digit temperatures.

San Francisco was seen hitting highs of 78 Monday and 80 Tuesday, while San Jose in Silicon Valley was seen peaking at 89 Monday and 95 Tuesday, then plummeting to 74 Wednesday, WSC said.

http://news.excite.com/news/r/000731/17/energy-power-california

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), July 31, 2000.