The Oil Drum

116 comments on Power Outages and Demand

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fleam on July 23, 2006 - 6:00pm

Traffic is awful here too, I've been hearing on the radio. Yes, ppl seem to be driving around with the AC on. Or something. Tons trying to get out to the beach areas so they're jamming up the roads to those areas, I've been in it once, and it involves an hour or two of sitting in sweltering traffic, inching along.

I don't have a bike right now, I need to look for a good one. If I had one I'd ride it to the library and "cool out" there, since I don't, I guess I'll putt over in the Prius.

More on the radio intel - people going out to buy fans and "none to be had", lots of large co's it seems trying their best to cut down energy usage by cutting back on lights, opening/closing doors, etc.

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step back on July 23, 2006 - 8:20pm

Fleam,
It's Sunday.
Here is the California ISO chart
Tomorrow businesses will be adding to demand
Every Office building needs A/C
Today was Easy Day for PG&E
Tomorrow, demand may exceed supply

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MicroHydro on July 23, 2006 - 10:42pm

Outdoor temp 58 degrees F this pleasant midwinter afternoon. But we did set an electric consumption record (for heating) during a cold spell in June. Home AC is rare in NZ so winter electric consumption is still greater than summer. The June cold spell was not exceptional but the recent housing boom has put people into bigger houses with greater heating demand. All things otherwise being equal, heating 2000 sqft uses more energy than heating 1000 sqft.