Environment

Calif. Power Supplies Adequate To Meet Summer Demand

By Ed Joyce / Reporter

Published July 4, 2011 at 3:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 13 years ago.

The ISO Control Room in Folsom operates around the clock, 365 days a year, directing the flow of electricity and ensuring access to 25,000 circuit miles of high-voltage, long distance power lines.

Officials Say Virtually No Chance Of Summer Brownouts

Calif. Power Supplies Adequate To Meet Summer Demand

Forecasters say a warmer than normal summer is expected in Southern California. But utility officials say there should be enough electricity to handle demand.

Weather forecasters predict a warmer than normal summer is expected in Southern California.

But utility officials and the California Independent System Operator, or CAL-ISO, said there should be enough electricity to handle demand.

Allison Zaragoza with San Diego Gas and Electric said power officials do not expect any rolling brownouts this summer.

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"We have adequate supplies in San Diego as well as California as a whole even if hotter than average temperatures do occur," said Zaragoza. "The Cal-ISO has confirmed that there's less than 1 percent chance of rotating power outages and we do continue to encourage customers to conserve energy."

She said conservation remains critical especially during heat waves or other transmission emergencies. She offered several tips to save energy and money.

"Turn off any unneeded lights, and computers when not in use," said Zaragoza. "Keep your blinds closed during the day to keep that hot sun out; also use your main appliances in the evening or early in the morning."

Zaragoza also said using fans instead of air conditioners can save energy and lower your utility bill.

"Air conditioning pushes rates into the higher tiers, so we try to let customers know if you're going to be away set your thermostat at 78 degrees," she said. "Using fans save a lot more energy, they're more cost effective and they can save actually 25 percent on your cooling costs."

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Ed Joyce was the environment reporter and afternoon news anchor for KPBS-FM. Before joining KPBS, he worked as an editor/columnist with Copley News Service in San Diego. Ed has an extensive background in newspaper, radio, web and TV journalism. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Ed began a career in broadcast journalism. His work has included stints in public broadcasting, commercial broadcasting and education -- working as an affiliate professor of communication and reporter at the University of Idaho and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. During the past 20 years he has worked in radio, TV and print as a news reporter, anchor, writer, editor and producer. Along the way he has won numerous awards for general news reporting, newswriting, feature and issue reporting and breaking news reporting from The Associated Press, The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Press Club and other organizations. During the mid-1990s, while working for Oregon Public Broadcasting, he was a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, including a feature report on the memorial service for 14 U.S. Forest Service "hotshots" who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado (the crew was based in a central Oregon town). He’s also filed reports with Marketplace, KQED’s California Report and Climate Watch and with national and regional networks throughout the United States. At KPBS, Ed continues his contributions to National Public Radio and other national and regional news organizations. He has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for his environmental reporting at KPBS-FM-TV and for producing and anchoring radio newscasts. In 2007 he was selected a National Press Foundation fellow for Understanding Violent Weather II program. The seminars were held at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. In 2008 he spoke at a UC San Diego conference on U.S. National Security as part of the school’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Ed led a discussion with the 18 foreign government officials and academics about the political debate over climate change. In 2010, Ed was elected to a three-year term on the board of the San Diego Press Club.

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