California braces for power-grid test amid heat wave

By Rory Carroll | Reuters – 7 hours ago

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's electricity grid operator issued a rare statewide alert on Thursday warning residents to curb power usage in coming days as a heat wave threatens to strain its already taxed network.

The California Independent System Operation, or CAISO, a not-for-profit corporation charged with operating the majority of the state's high-voltage grid, issued a "flex" alert urging consumers to reduce power usage especially in the afternoon, when air-conditioning dramatically ramps up demand.

A ridge of high pressure, which brought above-normal heat to the Midwest earlier this summer, is now sitting over the Four Corners region, pushing high temperatures into the upper 80s and low 90s Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) across much of California, about 5 to 10 degrees above normal, according to AccuWeather.com.

CAISO is bracing for the heat wave and struggling to compensate for the loss of the 2,150-megawatt (MW) San Onofre nuclear power plant. That plant will be offline at least through the end of the summer, following a small radiation leak.

The CAISO warned earlier that San Onofre's prolonged outage increased the possibility of rolling blackouts in Southern California, particularly in the event of extreme weather or additional generation problems.

The electric alert may serve as a reality check for state leaders and grid officials who are struggling to deal with increasing demands for more carbon-free electricity over the next few years.

California's plan to dramatically increase reliance on renewable power sources, such as solar and wind, while shutting a number of ocean-side plants that supply power around the clock will challenge power grid operators to keep the lights on.

The grid operator said Thursday's situation was exacerbated when a large power plant went offline unexpectedly.

Businesses and homes were urged to curb use during the peak consumption hours of 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Sunday.

California's two major utility companies, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE), asked industrial customers to limit consumption during the hot spell, officials from both firms said.

"We are having above-normal temperatures, especially on the coast," Steven Greenlee, a CAISO spokesman, told Reuters. "We've got higher demand because of the temperatures and, as we had anticipated when San Onofre went offline, supplies are getting tighter."

EMERGENCY

The current heat wave will be the biggest test of the power grid since 2007, when a "stage 1" emergency was declared after operating electricity reserves fell between 7 and 6 percent.
CAISO has also ordered power-plant owners and transmission operators across the state to limit maintenance activities that might jeopardize equipment availability due to the high electric demands.

Despite the consumption alert, Greenlee said the state is not in danger of blackouts at this point.
"We would take other steps and release another warning before that would take place," he said.
Peak electricity demand ranges from nearly 47,000 MW Thursday, then trending downward to 43,000 MW by Monday as the above-normal temperatures abate. The state is capable of producing up to 58,600 MW, according to CAISO.

California is no stranger to blackouts, having experienced costly power outages in 2000 and 2001. It was later revealed that those blackouts were the result of power market manipulation, not supply-demand fundamentals.

The most recent major outage occurred in September of last year, when "human error" left nearly 5 million people across parts of California, Arizona and Mexico without power.

CAISO said Thursday's peak demand could reach 47,125 MW, which would surpass last summer's peak demand of 45,545 MW, set in early September. It would also exceed CAISO's forecast for peak power use this summer of 46,342 MW, under normal weather conditions.

California's all-time peak demand hit 50,270 MW on July 24, 2006 amid a heat wave. Since then, the economic recession and moderate weather have cut the state's electric needs.

Wholesale electric prices for Friday delivery in Southern California slipped to the mid-$50s per megawatt-hour, down $7 from an 18-month high set Wednesday.

Next-day power prices at the Palo Verde hub and the Mid-Columbia hub in Pacific Northwest also eased from Wednesday.

(Additional reporting by Eileen O'Grady in Houston; Editing by Dan Grebler and David Gregorio)


Source

.

Another Government Shut-Down Deadline?

Photo (Courtesy) http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2011/09/23/Government-shutdown-Congress-hits-new-impasse-over-disaster-aid-spending-cuts-to-pay-for-it.html

Just when you thought is was safe to go on a shop 'til you drop Black Friday rampage and throw your cares to the air, Congress has reached another fiscal impasse; Another squabble over where and how 'your' money is spent. What a travesty of law? What chicanery?

Humh?

This sure smells of Ordo ab Chao, or further proof of a conspiracy to beat everyone into compromise or as PC call it: Consensus.

We have the world's most transparent government, and the freest news media (compared to what); Yet, what we are able to see is clear and present deception...

Arsenio

.

Survive the Zombie Apocalypse: The Cost of a Survival Kit

October 30, 2011

By Casey Bond

When it comes to your emergency savings fund, have you set aside some money in preparation for a real emergency? For instance, when the zombie apocalypse hits, will you be ready?

One of the key possessions you should have on hand is azombie survival kit. Putting one together requires quite a few items, and the cash to fund it, so make sure you budget for this end-of-the-world must-have.

Emergency Essentials

While there are endless items it would be nice to have in your zombie survival kit, at least make sure you’re covered all theemergency essentials you’ll need to stay alive. Keep in mind, you want to keep you kit light, so try to scavenge for things like food and weapons along the way to the nearest COSTCO.

Bic lighter: $1

With no gas or electricity, you will need a way to keep warm. Lighters are small and lightweight, though they don’t last long. Consider stocking up on several.

Can opener: $10

Canned food will likely be the most abundant and lost-lasting sustenance available, so be sure you can actually get to it.

Mylar blanket: $2

Made from the same material as those foil-like balloons, protect yourself from the elements by wrapping up in this shiny, durable blanket.

Aluminum Water Bottle: $15

After most disasters, fresh water is hard to come by–keep a refillable aluminum water bottle on hand for when you come across clean water sources.

First Aid Kit: $20

If you’re bitten, game over. However, there are a number of ways you could be injured while navigating the post-apocalyptic world. Make sure you’re prepared with bandages, disinfectant and tape.

Maglight: $18

This heavy duty flashlight allows you to find your way around in the dark, and doubles as a handy brain-basher for close encounters with the walking dead.

AA Batteries: $15

Keep your flashlight going and be able to juice up any useful small electronics you find. Pro tip: Rubbing a battery and steel wool together will start a fire if there aren’t any lighters or matches around.

Pocket knife: $10

Like duct tape, you can accomplish just about any task with a pocket knife.

Comfy Backpack: $80

Invest in a durable and comfortable backpack. You’ll likely be on foot most of the time and need to carry the above items on you.

Total Cost of Survival = $171

Don’t worry if you don’t have any of these items, you can divide up the total cost into manageable monthly increments. And luckily, even if the undead never attack, your zombie survival kit will work well as an emergency preparedness kit in the even of any disaster.

Source