Calif. Sets Power Use Record for 3rd Day

Calif. Sets Power Use Record for 3rd Day

Jul 22 - Associated Press/AP Online

FOLSOM, Calif. - For the third day in a row, California set a record for electricity use Wednesday - and for the third day supplies were sufficient.

The new record, 44,360 megawatts, was set at 4:18 p.m. - surpassing the previous day's record by 30 megawatts, the California Independent System Operator said. A megawatt is enough electricity to power 750 homes for a year.

The ISO predicted the record would be broken again Thursday as air conditioners continue to provide relief from above-average temperatures that have been blanketing much of the state. But the ISO said supplies should be ample to avoid an electrical emergency.

Temperatures topped 100 degrees in the Sacramento area Wednesday and were forecast to exceed that mark again Thursday.

More power plants have been built around the state to help prevent a repeat of the sporadic blackouts that plagued the state during the 2001 energy crisis.

Until Monday, the previous peak-demand record had stood since 1999.

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