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California's power cuts will likely increase in the coming days as the state prepares to enter its most brutal stretch of summer yet. Independent Power Operator President and CEO Elliot Mainzer said electricity demand is expected to exceed supply starting Monday night, and Tuesday's prediction shows the state rivaling its all-time high for electricity demand.
In the state effort to reduce electricity consumption, state officials, including the governor of California, urged the population to reduce demand on the electricity network, to avoid frequent blackouts.
Elliot Mainzer, executive director of the California Independent System Operator, said the "extraordinary heat event we are experiencing" makes it essential that homes and businesses reduce energy use after 4 p.m. After 7 p.m, California's grid hit peak demand of more than 52,000 megawatts, hitting a new all-time high for the state. The maximum capacity of the state is 56,000 megawatts. The system declared an emergency Monday from 5 to 9 p.m.
Reasons for power Outage in California
The extreme heat wave that crosses California has forced the authorities to ask the population to voluntarily reduce energy consumption and avoid rotating cuts. However, if this is not enough incentive, there are economic reward programs for the community to do so.
- Increased use of air conditioning during a heat wave, increases the demand for electricity.
- Unexpected outages of power plants or transmission lines caused by mechanical failures
- Forest fires
- Transmission Line Limitations
- Cloud cover reduces solar power generation
- Lack of wind reduces wind power generation
Electricity Consumption
California's Comprehensive Climate Plan would increase electricity consumption by 68% by 2045, under severe strain on the electricity grid. The far-reaching strategy will change the state, reducing the use of fossil fuels by 91% by 2045 and increasing the use of electric cars and renewable energy such as wind and solar. The plan aims to meet the state's mandate to reduce planet-warming emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.
“Electricity demand is currently forecast at more than 52,000 megawatts (MW), a new all-time high for the grid,” the agency said Tuesday. Residents should be “prepared for potential rotating power outages Tuesday night as hotter weather from this historic heat wave is forecast to push electricity demand to an all-time high. If blackouts do start, consumers can expect to receive notifications from energy providers about the affected areas and how long they will last."
Electricity source of California
| Fuel Type | California In-State Generation (GWh) | Per cent of California In-State Generation | Northwest Imports (GWh) | Southwest Imports (GWh) | Total Imports (GWh) | Per cent of Imports | Total California Energy Mix (GWh) | Total California Power Mix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | 303 | 0.2% | 181 | 7,788 | 7,969 | 9.5% | 8,272 | 3.0% |
| Natural Gas | 97,431 | 50.2% | 45 | 7,880 | 7,925 | 9.5% | 105,356 | 37.9% |
| Oil | 37 | 0.0% | - | - | - | 0.0% | 37 | 0.0% |
| Other (Waste Heat/Petroleum Coke) | 382 | 0.2% | 68 | 15 | 83 | 0.1% | 465 | 0.2% |
| Nuclear | 16,477 | 8.5% | 524 | 8,756 | 9,281 | 11.1% | 25,758 | 9.3% |
| Large Hydro | 12,036 | 6.2% | 12,042 | 1,578 | 13,620 | 16.3% | 25,656 | 9.2% |
| Unspecified | - | 0.0% | 8,156 | 10,731 | 18,887 | 22.6% | 18,887 | 6.8% |
| Total Thermal and Non-Renewables | 126,666 | 65.2% | 21,017 | 36,748 | 57,764 | 69.1% | 184,431 | 66.4% |
| Biomass | 5,381 | 2.8% | 864 | 26 | 890 | 1.1% | 6,271 | 2.3% |
| Geothermal | 11,116 | 5.7% | 192 | 1,906 | 2,098 | 2.5% | 13,214 | 4.8% |
| Small Hydro | 2,531 | 1.3% | 304 | 1 | 304 | 0.4% | 2,835 | 1.0% |
| Solar | 33,260 | 17.1% | 220 | 5,979 | 6,199 | 7.4% | 39,458 | 14.2% |
| Wind | 15,173 | 7.8% | 9,976 | 6,405 | 16,381 | 19.6% | 31,555 | 11.4% |
| Total Renewables | 67,461 | 34.8% | 11,555 | 14,317 | 25,872 | 30.9% | 93,333 | 33.6% |
| Total System Energy | 194,127 | 100.0% | 32,572 | 51,064 | 83,636 | 100.0% | 277,764 | 100.0% |
Mandatory EVs
California, the nation’s most populous state and the center of US car culture will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles beginning in 2035, marking a historic step in the state’s battle against climate change. The rule, issued by the California Air Resources Board on Thursday, will force automakers to accelerate production of cleaner vehicles starting in 2026 until only sales of zero-emission cars, trucks and SUVs are allowed in the state.
Funny comments of People on Power outage
Also Read
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- Bank Australia will not provide loans for Petrol and Diesel cars to fight climate change
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