NYT: Electrical Use Hits New Highs in Much of U.S.

[DeepModem Mom]

Electrical Use Hits New Highs in Much of U.S.
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA and MATTHEW L. WALD
Published: August 2, 2006

A smothering heat wave shattered records for electricity use across a wide swath of the country yesterday as utilities and government officials called for conservation and braced for even more strain on the power grid today.

Power systems held up well despite worries about overloaded plants, transformers or lines. But utility executives warned that the risk of breakdowns rises steadily as a heat wave wears on, and with today’s temperatures expected to top yesterday’s, with possible record highs along the East Coast, power companies were girding for a huge challenge.

Three independent system operators, agencies that manage regional grids for New York, the mid-Atlantic and the Midwest, set record highs for electricity demand yesterday, breaking records set two weeks ago. New England was just shy of a record.

Experts say demand is rising faster than the ability to meet it, which over the long run could pose the risk of both local and regional failures....

***

Power demand has climbed much faster than predicted across the country since 2004, raising concerns about whether efforts to build new plants and transmission lines, and encourage conservation, will satisfy the nation’s appetite for electricity....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/02/us/02power.html?hp&ex=1154491200&en=450663e8df04140e&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[AliceWonderland]

1. Thanks for posting

Important article, thank you.

[JanusAscending]

2. They are really worried here in Northwestern Ct.

I got a recorded call today from them,because I am on their list of custumers who have medical protection from "shut offs" due to an affidavit from my Dr. It's a life or death situation in my case as I have bronchial athsma, commonly know as COPD. They said to be prepared for an outage, with alternitive powers sources. I do have a generator, but don't know if it would run my central air conditioner. We need to conserve folks. No dishwashers or laundry during peak hours! It's a matter of life and death.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. Wise words, dc -- thanks for posting! nt

[Skittles]

4. I'm good

I never use a dishwasher and I do my laundry in the middle of the night. Yes INDEED. :thumbsup:

[Canuckistanian]

5. It was a record day here in Ontario, too.

Fortunately, our system can handle it, but they were still talking about rolling brownouts.

[ixion]

6. ya know, if they'd start encouraging the use of solar and wind

through tax breaks, etc, it would do a great deal to stem the tide, and help the overall problem in general.

Do you think that's going to happen, though?

When pigs fly. Because they'd rather take us over the edge and be able to charge us through the nose for utilities than do something that would actually be beneficial. :grr:

[MercutioATC]

7. The power company is instituting rolling blackouts here in Cleveland.

(well, in some of the suburbs, anyway)

[ovidsen]

8. How stores can save energy and avoid blackouts

I'm a big fan of air conditioning, used prudently. But the practice of some shopkeepers (especially in pedestrian friendly cities - think NYC and Chicago) of keeping store doors wide open, letting cool air gush over sidewalks during heat waves should be stopped.

Air-Conditioned Sidewalks

Store managers contend that the cool breeze from their entrances entices shoppers inside, and offsets the increased a/c costs. How short sighted and selfish can you get?

Maybe I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but every time I walk by a store and get flash-frozen, I think of the stress this flagrant waste of electricity puts on power grids. I also think of the money sailing out their doors and into the pockets of utilities and big oil.

Okay, rant's over....