http://www.siliconvalley.com/docs/hottopics/energy/power072601b.htm

Posted at 7:55 p.m. PDT Wednesday, July 25, 2001

PG&E set to lower voltage in move to conserve power BY MICHAEL BAZELEY Mercury News Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will start cranking down the voltage to many customers in the next two weeks, but a larger effort to lower voltage statewide to stave off blackouts is still being debated.

Representatives said Wednesday that PG&E will drop the voltage slightly on 300 of its 3,000 circuits in an attempt to save up to 40 megawatts of power.

Company officials said they did not know yet how many customers will be affected or where.

PG&E is responding to a request by Gov. Gray Davis that utilities lower the voltage going into homes and businesses as a way to reduce demand this summer.

Davis -- backed by scientists and the California Energy Commission -- said the change could save as much as 500 megawatts statewide, enough to prevent blackouts on high-demand days. Experts say most customers would not notice the change.

Since Davis touted the idea last month, it has become controversial.

First, PG&E officials told state regulators that its system could not save as many megawatts as backers originally expected. Now, all the utilities have expressed concerns about a key piece of the plan -- a change in regulations that would allow the voltage at a customer's meter to drop as low as 110 volts.

State regulators delayed a vote on the issue earlier this month and are expected to discuss it Aug. 2. PG&E decided to go ahead and make what changes it could within existing regulations.

Depending on the customer, voltage will drop from as high as 126 volts to as low as 114, the minimum regulators allow.

A chief proponent of the idea, radio host and scientist Bill Wattenberg, wants regulators to temporarily amend their regulations to let voltage go as low as 110 volts.

But PG&E and San Diego Gas & Electric officials said that might hurt customers' appliances or other machinery.

``If we're going to lower voltage below 114 at the meter, we're going into uncharted territory,'' Patrick Lee, a manager for the San Diego utility, said at a Public Utilities Commission workshop Wednesday. ``We should be sensitive about lowering voltage to the point that it will drive up customer complaints.''

Southern California Edison officials were more accepting. But unlike San Diego and PG&E, Edison can fairly easily turn up its voltage if customers begin to complain.

Wattenberg, exasperated that no plan is in place midway through summer, suggested scrapping the idea.

``I think it's an embarrassment,'' he said.

Contact Michael Bazeley at mbazeley@sjmercury.com or (415) 434-1018.

-- Tess (webwoman@iamit.com), July 27, 2001

Answers

The correct voltage at the outlet is 117V.
3 months ago I had 128v /129v and my UPS howled like a banshie, good thing it did. Lost three light bulbs that night. Then last month it was 106, and the UPS complained too, and lost a ceiling fan.
The power company will be solving the problem: Trees touching the intermediate lines under the big high voltage lines along the main road.

-- (perry@ofuzzy1.com), July 27, 2001.