Most of the growth that has over-stressed the western power grid occurred outside California, in neighboring states with lesser commitments to energy efficiency.
Scumbria,
First, CA's low growth this past decade can be attributed in large part to the very heavy migration out of the state, primarily from the southern part, in the first 5 years of the '90's. Until 1996, more people left CA then came into the state. Millions left the state. Most of those millions went to surrounding states who admittedly benefited from the influx of new people and jobs. But no planning agency could have predicted the size of the outflow which was strongly prompted by a very serious recession, a major earthquake and a civil insurrection. The size of the outflow marks a major demographic event in the last of half of the century.
Secondly, why are prices on the wholesale market jumping up so high and why are surrounding states being required to send power to CA when you say CA has enough power. There has to be a shortfall in CA somewhere.
Thirdly, why are people in Seattle getting our 2nd rate increase in 4 months when CA residents are being absolved of any financial responsibity? The cost of energy is going up in both places for the same reason....wholesale prices are going thru the roof. Yet, WA doesn't have a cap on retail rates to customers so we must pay the increase in wholesale prices.
Why are WA utilites having to go to the wholesale markets? Well in the case of Seattle Light, it has to send power from its own generating facilities to CA to prevent the western grid from collapsing. That leaves it short for its own needs so it has to go out and buy energy in the same wholesale market where prices have gone ballistic.
Why is Seattle Light so short? Did they not plan for such an inevitability? They did but the plan has gone awry. First we are having a drought only by Seattle standards.....watersheds are 68% of normal, meaning our hydroelectric plants are running at below normal capacity. But such an event was anticipated....its happened before. CA was supposed to help us in this kind of situation. There is an agreement between the two states whereby CA sends power to WA as needed in the winter when WA's power needs are greatest, and WA will send its power south to CA as needed in the summer when CA's power requirements are at their peak. A very practical and rational agreement. Only one problem....CA has not sent one megawatt of power to WA this winter.
So I think its a little to early to absolve CA of blame and make OR, WA, ID, MT, etc the fall guys.
ted |
