Report gives warning about electricity reserve margins in California

The Bakersfield Californian --Sep. 22

Sep. 22--If a significant number of aging power plants continue to retire between now and 2008, and nothing is done to replace those supplies, electricity reserve margins in the state could become dangerously thin, putting California citizens and businesses at risk, according to a new report from the California Energy Commission.

The report -- a draft update to the commission's 2003 Integrated Energy Policy Report -- says "additional steps must be taken to assure that California has adequate supplies over the next few years."

The commission is required by state law to submit an energy policy report every two years and an update every other year.

The commission has until Nov. 1 to submit its final 2004 update to the governor and Legislature. The commission will hold several public hearings before then.

In its 2003 report, the commission concluded the state had adequate energy supplies to keep the lights on through 2009, provided weather conditions are average.

The energy situation is a bit more serious in the 2004 update.

"When we look at it at a regional level, we're more concerned because of the potential retirement of these older power plants and the critical need for improving transmission lines," said Claudia Chandler, assistant director of the energy commission.

Chandler said Kern County is better off than other regions in the state, namely Southern California and the San Francisco Bay area, which could face problems as early as next summer.

"Kern County might actually be in good shape," said Chandler, noting that several power plants were built here following the energy crisis.

However, she advised local residents against resting on their laurels.

"You have increased population growths, too," she said.

In general, while the state's situation has improved since the energy crisis, "we shouldn't get overly confident that we're out of the woods," Chandler said. "There's some very key things that need to get done between now and next summer. We have to plan for a hotter than normal summer. If we don't, it's irresponsible."

The 2004 update committee's recommendations include upgrading and expanding transmission lines, exploring ways to encourage the residential use of solar power and moving forward with contracts for newer power plants while giving older power plants stand-by contracts so the state can, if necessary, call upon their resources on very hot days.

The committee encourages the commission to step up its participation in the work being done to improve transmission in Tehachapi, a wind energy sector.

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