Slashdot: The grid is overloaded due to deregulation, not demand

[starroute]

http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=74768&threshold=5&commentsort=0&tid=187&mode=thread&cid=6702922

Unfortunately, because of government stupidity (deregulation) and corporate greed the grid is now being used in a way it was never intended to be. It is often loaded to near full capacity drawing power over very long distances. The idea of deregulation was that loosely regulated for-profit companies would compete to generate electricity which the local power companies could purchase instead of generating their own. Because the power companies no longer had to be responsible for providing capacity in excess of what is needed the rates could be lowered since the power companies themselves wouldn't need that money to build new plants, they could just buy power from startup companies (Enron anyone?) which would compete to sell it to the local power companies.

<snip>

With deregulation, the power companies no longer have an incentive to have excess capacity when they can buy it from others. That's bad! Furthermore, it causes some massive technical problems. Since companies are now using the grid to transmit power for everyday use, the grid has to carry more power. The grid was not designed to do that. . . . The only way to restore the system to a state of excess capacity is to bring back the regulations which make it profitable to have excess capacity.

[gratuitous]

1. Did the Merchants of Fear overplay their hand?

One thing I've noticed in the Blackout stories is that folks did not panic. Nobody went on a killing spree. Angry mobs didn't burn down mosques. No, once folks were apprised of the situation, people pitched in and helped each other out: Out of the subways, around town, directing traffic where the signals had gone out.

If this was another Rovian schwerve, it seems to have backfired. The American people may be a little more resilient and a little more resourceful than they've been given credit for. And when the lights are back on, and the dust settles, they're going to go looking for answers.

They shouldn't need to look any further than the profits of the energy companies and their pattern of campaign contributions.

[cprise]

2. I noticed that one

... it's definately worth reposting here.

There are some interesting comments in that story.

[mrfrapp]

4. Obligatory Clinton Bash

I found it! The obligatory post that blames it on Clinton!

http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=74768&cid=6703683

[wryter2000]

3. Ye gods

That's exactly what happened in California in early 2001