Why are they turning off MY electricity?
Rolling Blackouts
Q: What are rolling blackouts?
A: Rolling blackouts are a rationing scheme utilities resort to when electricity demand outstrips supply, which can happen in heat waves as air conditioners and fans are cranked up to cool homes, offices and stores. They take blocks of circuits and the customers hooked up to them offline to balance demand with supply.
California Expresses Frustration as Blackouts Enter 4th Day
Lawmakers and consumer groups expressed outrage on Monday that the operator of California’s electricity grid had not adequately prepared for a heat wave and was resorting to rolling blackouts.
Steve Berberich, president and chief executive officer of California I.S.O., said the system could be short about 4,400 megawatts of power in the late afternoon. “It’s going to be highly disruptive to people,” Mr. Berberich said. “We’re going to do everything we can to narrow that gap.”
Q: How are rolling blackouts different from other outages?
A: Outages caused by damage to electrical equipment are common during winter storms and heat waves, and last until utility crews repair the damage. Safety Power Shutoffs, which preemptively shut down power lines to prevent damage from high winds and low moisture that can spark devastating wildfires. Those can last as long as dangerous conditions continue.
Sweltering Heat
… has smothered much of the West over the last week and is expected to strain the electric grid that serves about 80 percent of California. Temperatures in Death Valley reached 130 degrees.
The heat is expected to continue through Wednesday evening. The governor, the grid operator and utilities have been asking consumers to reduce electricity use between 3 and 10 p.m., when power demand typically peaks in the state.
2000-2001
Beginning of blackouts
Q: Why did those occur?
The rolling blackouts of 2000-2001 resulted from California’s flawed electricity deregulation system.
2020 – Steve Berberich, president and chief executive officer of California I.S.O., said the system could be short about 4,400 megawatts of power in the late afternoon. “It’s going to be highly disruptive to people,” Mr. Berberich said. “We’re going to do everything we can to narrow that gap.”
After 20 years, and one of the largest states for new solar installation…
Q: Why is it happening again?
Mark Toney, executive director of the Utility Reform Network, which represents consumers before the California Public Utilities Commission, called on lawmakers to investigate California I.S.O. to determine why the agency did not adequately prepare for the heat wave.
“Why did they not do a better job of managing the grid, which is their job?” Mr. Toney said.
State Senator Jerry Hill, who heads a Senate energy subcommittee, said he had learned that blackouts on Friday took place in part because a natural gas power plant unexpectedly went offline.
“It failed to produce when called on,” Mr. Hill said. “There’s something wrong, and it’s up to the Legislature and the governor to find out.”
Q: Is it up the legislatures?
Its time for YOU to be responsible and DROP YOUR ENERGY BILL !
Q: Higher electric Bills?
YES !
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has been monitoring California’s energy troubles. The commission said it had discussed the electricity demand and wholesale power prices, which spiked in California over the weekend, with California I.S.O.