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BPA Power Cuts Put California Grid on Alert by Jennifer Coleman, Associated Press Spokesman Review, March 16, 2001

Agency stems water releases to build up supply behind hydropower dams

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- State grid officials imposed a power alert Thursday for the first time in more than a week as electricity imports from the Pacific Northwest dropped and California plants shut down for unexpected repairs.

The Stage 2 alert -- declared when reserves fall below 5 percent -- came as the California Independent System Operator lost about 1,600 megawatts. That's enough power for roughly 1.6 million households.

Much of the power was lost due to lower exports from the Bonneville Power Administration, which markets the power from federal dams in Washington and Oregon. BPA is cutting back on its water releases to build reserves for the summer, spokesman Mike Hansen said.

"We did what we could for as long as we could," Hansen said.

In addition, 900 megawatts were lost due to unscheduled California power plant outages, ISO officials said.

Officials in Washington and Oregon have warned that low water reserves threaten the availability of hydroelectric power in the region.

"This demonstrates how we're still operating on the edge here, and how critical these imports from the Northwest are," California ISO spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle said.

The alert -- the first since March 5 -- was expected to remain until at least Thursday night. Despite the declaration, the ISO did not immediately require "interruptible" customers -- who get lower rates for turning off power when needed -- to shut down.

The power alert came as the Assembly took several steps to cope with California's energy crisis, passing bills that would regulate power plant outages and expand utility programs that cut rates for big power users who turn off electricity when needed.

The Assembly also sent the Senate two measures on investor-owned utilities' interruptible-service programs, which give nonresidential utility customers discounted rates if they agree to shut down during periods of tight power supplies. The programs are considered key tools for avoiding rolling blackouts this summer, when air conditioning and other power use is expected to further strap the state's electricity supply.

The Assembly approved a bill that would extend the programs until the end of 2002 and require investor-owned utilities to offer customers more ways to participate.

It also passed a measure that would let those in such programs for at least a year that have been barred by the state Public Utilities Commission from getting out of them opt out without penalty.