|
Armando Rendón |
February 8, 2001 |
CPUC: 008 | |
415-703-1366 |
R.00-10-002 | |||
CPUC HOLDS PUBLIC HEARINGS TO REVIEW ITS ROTATING OUTAGE AND INTERRUPTIBLE PROGRAMS TO RESPOND TO POTENTIAL POWER SHORTAGES
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold a series of Public Participation Hearings throughout the state on the program for the interruption of electric service and outage priorities of Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric.
In order to deal with those periods during which energy supplies are tight, the Commission has developed "interruptible load" programs wherein certain large customers agree voluntarily to stop or curtail using electricity during times of energy shortages in exchange for rate discounts.
If this program proves insufficient to maintain the reliability of the electric system during a power shortage, the utilities begin mandatory curtailment-rotating outages-of customers. That is, when other means to manage a shortage have not succeeded (such as voluntary curtailments), service is cut to blocks of customers on a rotating basis to prevent total system failure.
The Commission wants public comment on the role of customers in its interruptible load programs and how to coordinate these programs with other means used to manage electricity shortages.
The Commission is also interested in hearing comment about the priorities that are used to determine mandatory curtailments, or rotating outages. In a 1980 decision (D91548), the Commission set priorities that exempt certain customers from rotating outages. The priority list includes:
A. Government and other agencies providing essential fire, police, and prison services.
B. Government agencies essential to the national defense.
C. Hospitals with 100 beds or more.
D. Communication utilities, as they relate to public health, welfare and security.
E. Navigation communication, traffic control, and landing and departure facilities for commercial air and sea operations.
F. Electric utility facilities and supporting fuel and fuel transportation services critical to continuity of electric power system operation.
G. Radio and television broadcasting stations used for broadcasting emergency messages, instructions, and other public information related to the electric curtailment emergency.
H. Water and sewage treatment utilities may request partial or complete exemption from electric utilities in times of emergency, such as firefighting.
I. Areas served by networks, at utilities' discretion.
For more background on this issue, the Commission's Energy Division will soon issue a report on the subject. The report will be available either on our Website ( www.cpuc.ca.gov) or by writing, Paul Clanon, Director, Energy Division, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102. Refer to the January 2001 Energy Division Report in R.00-10-002.
Further, the Proposed Decision of Assigned Commissioner Carl Wood will be released for comment before the full Commission considers it for adoption. A copy may be obtained on the CPUC Website or by writing to the Public Advisor at the address below, or writing in advance to be placed on a mailing list.
To participate, interested persons should arrive before 7:00 p.m. and sign in to speak. To get more information or advice on participation before the hearing, write to:
Public Advisor
California Public Utilities Commission
320 West 4th Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90013
or, via e-mail to: public.advisor.la@cpuc.ca.gov
Persons who cannot attend a hearing may mail in their comments to the Public Advisor at the same address. Refer to the proceeding, R.00-10-002.
All sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. The schedule of hearings follows:
February 22 San Francisco Auditorium, First Floor
State Office Building
505 Van Ness Avenue
February 26 San Diego Auditorium, Room B-109
San Diego State Building
1350 Front Street
February 27 Santa Ana City Hall Council Chambers
20 Civic Center Plaza
February 28 San Bernardino Council Chambers
City Hall
300 North "D" Street
March 1 Fresno Auditorium, Room 1036
State Office Building
2550 Mariposa Mall
###
