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California Thankful for Wet Winter by Associated Press Environmental News Network, February 27, 2001

Californians may have moaned during the past few winters as they sloshed through puddles, but energy officials couldn't be happier.

The precipitation has raised reservoir levels and helped hydroelectric plants gear up for this summer's power demands, energy officials said Monday. Customers are expected to use one-third more power as the summer approaches.

California's hydroelectric dams provide between 10 percent and 20 percent of the state's annual power supply, said Jim McKinney of the California Energy Commission.

"We've always known it wasn't a dependable source," but in the past there were always out-of-state imports and plenty of reserves to cover the deficit, he said.

Those out-of-state sources have all but dried up this year, however. The Northwest, where most of the region's hydroelectric power is produced, has had unusually dry weather, said John Harrison, spokesman for the Northwest Power Planning Council.

And Harrison warns that Northwest imports could be even more scarce this summer.

"If this trend continues, there won't be any surplus to sell to California and we'll be struggling to meet our own demands," he said.

Meanwhile, normally sunny Southern California is the location of the West Coast's wettest city this year, thanks to rains that have drenched the region for nearly a week.

By Monday, Los Angeles had received 13.36 inches of rain since Jan. 1 — almost triple the 4.77 inches that had fallen on Seattle.

L.A.'s water woes came as California started the work week with no power alerts for the first time in almost two months.

Moderate temperatures lessened power demand in the state, said Lorie O'Donley, spokeswoman for the California Independent System Operator, which runs the power grid.

Tight supplies in the Northwest could complicate next summer's situation but officials say current reservoirs seem adequate.

Gov. Gray Davis has issued executive orders to shorten the approval process for new plants and expects to gain 5,000 megawatts by summer — enough to power about 5 million homes.

"If everything goes according to plan, we should just squeak by," McKinney said.

Davis and executives from three investor-owned utilities also continued negotiations Monday for the state purchase of the transmission lines owned by three utilities.

Davis last Friday announced a $2.7 billion proposal to buy Southern California Edison's transmission system. Officials are continuing to meet with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric.

Federal approval is required for the proposed purchase and Davis is expected to meet with Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Tuesday.

PG&E and Edison say they've lost nearly $13 billion due to high wholesale costs from a 1996 deregulation law that prevents them from passing those costs on to customers.