Triple-Digit Heat Prompts Power Emergency

(CBS/AP)  California's electricity grid manager declared a minor power emergency Wednesday as the state's operating energy reserve dipped below 7 percent.

The declaration of the Stage 1 emergency is the least worrisome of three steps preceding rolling blackouts, in which power is cut to certain regions to avoid a systemwide crash. The announcement triggered conservation efforts by state agencies and a general call for California's 37 million residents to turn down air conditioners and restrict the use of heavy appliances during hot afternoon hours.

For a second straight day, energy demand surged 1,000 megawatts above forecasts, according to the California Independent System Operator. If that trend continues on Thursday, California would set a new all-time record for energy demand and come close to using all the available electricity resources that are forecast for the state.

"We're tapping our operating reserves and we are stepping up our calls for conservation, but we are still a long way from a Stage 3 alert and blackouts," said Stephanie McCorkle, a spokeswoman for the independent system operator.

The agency manages the flow of power over lines owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas and Electric Co., the state's largest investor-owned utilities.

Peak demand for Thursday is expected to be 49,572 megawatts, but McCorkle said that could be revised upward based on the trend of the past two days.

California's all-time record energy demand of 50,270 megawatts was set last July during a two-week heat wave blamed for hundreds of deaths.

Electricity is in scarce supply this week because temperatures are high simultaneously in the northern and southern parts of the state, as well as throughout the West.

Temperatures were expected to reach 108 on Thursday in Fresno and 103 in Sacramento, while ranging from 87 to 100 in the Los Angeles area. The San Francisco Bay area also was forecast to have above-average temperatures.

High temperatures throughout Arizona, New Mexico and much of the West also are complicating the state's efforts to pull in energy.

Sweltering temperatures have caused discomfort, and even deaths, across the country this summer. Last week the Arkansas Department of Health said six people have died this summer as a result of the sustained triple-digit temperatures baking the region; two of those deaths were of individuals working outside during the heat wave.

In Alabama, which has received long-sought relief in the form of thunderstorms, 12 deaths have been attributed to the weeks-long heat wave. At least four deaths were recorded in Georgia.

In Tennessee, where there have been 15 confirmed heat-related deaths during the current heat wave, authorities in Portland say a man helping build a house was found dead and his death may be related to the high temperatures.

Assistant Police Chief Richard Smith says fellow construction workers found Charles Brown, Jr., on the floor with both arms clutched over his chest. The 29-year-old Brown had been hanging drywall in a closet, which he says had no ventilation and was - in Smith's words - "horribly warm."

Brown had no known medical condition.

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[michellem99-2009]

I grew up in small towns back east. Can you car pool. I am aware people who don''t have access to mass transit, have drive places and walk. When I lived in small towns,I was a pupil and rode the school bus. Walked to the store. You do have you have to.

[cleantech1]

Almost 10% of the entire US electrical energy generated is wasted during transmission in the current power grid. I think the power companies should really accelerate the adoption of American Superconductor''s proven technology to reduce energy loss in transmission.

Another good idea I heard is to encourage more people to use electrical vehicle (e.g. Phoenix Motorcar http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com). These electrical vehicles, when plugged in, can also act as many large batteries for the national grid to cover peak usage like the case in this heat wave.

[oscarez]

"What about those of us that live 30 miles from town?

Remember the horse & buggy. By the year 2100 one would hope that electric cars will be the mode of transport. Back in the 1960''s there were still electric trolley cars in some large cities. GM and the city powers replaced the electric trolley with smoke belching diesel buses.

[ianlou]

Have you heard the latest idea?
When Power demands are greatest and brown-outs may occur, The power companys want to be able to temporarily bump up the Kilowatt Price to encourage power saving behavior.

McDonalds could take lessons: "We''re short on fries, double the price on what%u2019s left"

Next thing you know we''ll have every company in America jerking us around like the Oil Companies!

[erasmus6]

hawksprings, hawksprings, hawksprings

Now WHY would anyone have to heat their pool if the temperatures are that high?

Al Gore doesn''t strike me as being an idiot.

[tnt1954]

go au naturel, turn off all air-conditioning.
its that simple.

[gunnerv1]

Yes but, it''s a"Dry Heat"

[aaabee-2009]

Maybe we should make Algore turn off the heater on his outdoor pool. That would help some, wouldn''''t it?" Posted by hawksprings at 01:10 PM : Aug 30, 2007

Absolutely, because it is the size of Al Gore''s electric bill that makes global warming a falsehood.

Why did Bush zero the budget of US geothermal technology, when we were ramping it up to where it could produce up to 30% of electrical needs in this country. Zero''d the budget. Flat-lined it. Killed it. Why is that?

And of course, we all know this rich oil-barren trust fund baby has solar power on his own oh-so-modest Crawford, TX ranch. He is about the only one that can afford solar since it costs $20,000 to rig a house. Why is it so expensive to go solar? Why is that?

And why is it that Al Gore''s electric bill was published but not Bush''s? Why is that?

[ubrew12]

Airmanc5 said: "as long as you have politicians like Ted Kennedy, Mitt Romney, and Robert Kennedy Jr. trying to stop installation of windturbines, on Cape Cod, "the not in my back yard syndrome" you will never accomplish any thing. AS far as John Edward..."

It''s fun to point out hypocrasies of the powerful. It''s not useful because individual contributions don''t matter, only bulk contributions. The fact is, efforts to significantly combat global warming require regulations that increase average mpg in cars, efficiency in buildings, and renewables in energy generation. It''s pretty clear which politicians have opposed these regulations, and which have supported them. So, yes, there are people we can blame for global warming, but they aren''t the people you mentioned.

[airmanc5]

as long as you have politicians like Ted Kennedy, Mitt Romney, and Robert Kennedy Jr. trying to stop installation of windturbines, on Cape Cod, "the not in my back yard syndrome" you will never accomplish any thing. AS far as John Edward, I believe he was in Florida the other day saying our first sacrifice should be giving up driving SUV''s. Then he was whisk away to the airport in a limo and boarded a private jet. Guess he is to stupid to realize people have cameras nowadays . The is not a Republician nor a Democrat, that will pay anything but lip service to this problem, because there is to much money going into their pockets, from both sides of the enviromental coin.