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8 March 2007 -- Power supplies are adequate and blackouts are not likely for California this summer, according to the California Independent System Operator Corporation (California ISO). However, as the demand for electricity continues to soar, voluntary conservation will continue to be an important part of balancing the supply and demand for electricity.
"We will count on consumers to do their part to reduce electricity use on peak days when the California appetite for megawatts rises with the mercury," said California ISO Vice President of Operations Jim Detmers. "New power plants, transmission additions and demand response resources will help us keep pace with load growth, but margins will be tight on peak days, especially in Southern California."
The ISO report shows that an estimated 700 MW in new generation will be added to the ISO control area this year in addition to about 230 MW in new demand response programs. The new resources roughly equal the growth in electricity demand occurring since last summer.
The ISO Summer Assessment indicates that baseload has grown nearly 1,000 MW as compared to last summer. Under the most likely scenario, the peak demand this summer is expected to reach 47,847 MW. Last year's historic peak demand of 50,270 MW on July 24 was about 4,000 MW higher than anticipated due to extreme temperature conditions.
The organization called last summer's heat wave a "one-in-57-year" event, but increased demand will continue to put strains on the system.
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