Grid

Between 2000 and 2004, a total of 145,417 MW of nonutilitygeneration is expected to be added to the U.S. power grid and 83%of that total will be gas-fired power generation, according to anew survey by the Energy Information Administration.

Between 2000 and 2004, a total of 145,417 MW of nonutilitygeneration is expected to be added to the U.S. power grid and 83%of that total will be gas-fired power generation, according to anew survey by the Energy Information Administration.

As an interim measure prior to California’s state-charteredelectric transmission grid operator (Cal-ISO) making longer-termchanges, its board of governors adopted by a 13-10 vote lastThursday a load differentiated price cap promoted by a consumeradvocate representative on the badly splintered stakeholder board.The action drew swift criticism from generators through theirWashington, DC-based association.

The California electric transmission grid operator’s (Cal-ISO’s)26-member board today will consider various proposals from itsmembers and staff for imposing some form of wholesale price capsunder its existing federal authorization to do so. They would betargeted at specific generators or demand levels.

California’s State Auditor General formally began contacting the state’s nonprofit electric grid operator (Cal-ISO) and wholesale spot power market (Cal-PX) Wednesday in a state legislature-ordered investigation that could lead to the merger of the two entities. The state’s electricity price spikes and supply shortfall this summer prompted legislative action in August ordering the probe.

California’s State Auditor General formally began contacting thestate’s nonprofit electric grid operator (Cal-ISO) and wholesalespot power market (Cal-PX) Wednesday in a state legislature-orderedinvestigation that could lead to the merger of the two entities.The state’s electricity price spikes and supply shortfall thissummer prompted legislative action in August ordering the probe.

Rather than “blaming just about everyone and everything” for thereliability problems of the electric transmission grid, SenateEnergy Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) urged Energy Secretary BillRichardson to take “immediate and meaningful action” to address thesituation in the short term, while Congress tries to work out alonger term solution.

In the midst of a Stage Two emergency alert by the state gridoperator, California generating plants used every cubic foot ofnatural gas they could squeeze through the state’s pipeline systemto keep the air conditioners humming in response to a statewideheat wave throughout the inland valleys and deserts. The secondstage alert, enacted less than two hours after a Stage One had beencalled, required major utilities to seek voluntary curtailmentsamong some of their largest power users.

Although the Northeast power grid remained under heavy stressTuesday from an intense heat wave, hourly spot prices for electricitywere backing off from the peaks of $6,000/MWh hit Monday afternoon inthe ISO New England service area (see related story in this issue). Although gasprices continued to advance Tuesday, a large aggregator felt confidentin predicting they will be following power quotes lower today.