 jhrvta
join:2000-04-16
Ventura, CA | reply to PolarBear03
Re: Eggs in one basket Umm, as a proud Californian, I have to chime in here...
This was not a problem of "capacity" or "generation." The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) reported plenty of capacity for this mild summer day. There were also no issues of "transmission." These are the very high voltage power lines that distribute power over long ranges. This was a problem of "distribution." Our good friends at PG&E had some issues in the complex system that leads power to our homes and businesses. There are transformers, power factor correction capacitors, power poles (that get hit by cars), and the like: things can go wrong. It is a very complicated system. To sum it up as simply as "stupid NIMBYs" really shows some... naivete.
The bankrupt PG&E may (or may not) have been paying too much attention to their distribution plant.
This leads us to what happened at the turn of this century and so called "deregulation."
I can go on for days and days why this was not good for all California consumers of electicity: from the delaying of building power plants, the disconnect of the power generators (which used to be the local utilities, now third party "Enron" type companies) from the local utilities (and their users), and the apparent greed of everybody (generators, utilities, lawmakers, and maybe some rate payers).
PS: I am moving to Washington. Don't want me there? NIMBY!!!
PPS: Just kidding!
jhrvta |
