Grid operator: 3.3 million California homes could lose power
SAN FRANCISCO — Up to 3.3 million homes and businesses in California were expected to lose power Monday as part of rolling blackouts to ease pressure on the state’s electric grid as a dayslong heat wave engulfing the West Coast creates an energy shortage.
The California Independent System Operator said it would likely order utility companies to turn off power starting around 4 p.m. as demand for electricity to cool homes soars during the hottest part of the day beyond the power available in the grid.
“I know that that’s going to be highly disruptive to people. I truly, truly wish there were other options that we had at hand,” California ISO CEO and President Steve Berberich said.
He said the state is short about 4,400 megawatts, which equates to about 3.3 million homes, and those affected can expect to lose power for about two hours. He didn’t say where the outages might occur, a decision that is up to the state’s utilities.
The grid operator ordered the first rolling blackouts in nearly 20 years Friday as unusually hot weather overwhelmed the state’s electrical grid. The state’s three biggest utilities — Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric — turned off power to more than 410,000 homes and businesses for about an hour at a time until the emergency declaration ended 3 1/2 hours later.
A second, but shorter, rolling outage came Saturday evening, cutting power to more than 200,000 customers. Californians packed beaches and river banks over the weekend to cool off from scorching triple-digit temperatures that raised the risk of more wildfires and fears of the coronavirus spreading.
An irate California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an emergency proclamation Sunday allowing some energy users and utilities to tap backup energy sources. Newsom acknowledged Monday that the state failed to predict and plan for the energy shortages.
“I am not pleased with what’s happened,” he said during an afternoon press briefing. “You shouldn’t be pleased with the moment that we’re in here in the state of California.”
Newsom also sent a letter demanding that the state energy commission, state public utilities commission and the California Independent System Operator investigate the blackouts.
The Democratic governor said residents battling a heat wave and a pandemic in which they’re encouraged to stay home as much as possible were left without the basic necessity of electricity.
“These blackouts, which occurred without prior warning or enough time for preparation, are unacceptable and unbefitting of the nation’s largest and most innovative state,” Newsom wrote. “This cannot stand. California residents and businesses deserve better from their government.”
In California, the Energy Commission forecasts how much energy the state will need and the PUC focuses on procuring it, the governor said.
During an ISO board meeting Monday morning, Berberich said the weekend blackouts could have been avoided had the PUC listened to the ISO’s previous concerns about a power shortfall. But in an afternoon call with reporters, he softened his tone, saying that he knows the commission is working hard to find the right balance of energy sources.
“It’s substantial, no question about it,” he said of the outage.
The PUC said it would work with the other agencies to figure out what happened. Spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the demand for electricity in the last few days has been consistent with expectations.
“The question we’re tackling is why certain resources were not available,” she said.
Power outages at any time are frustrating but even more so during a heat wave and pandemic. The last time a California governor faced power outages, he was successfully recalled. Gray Davis, a Democrat, was recalled in October 2003 and replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican.
Daniel Kammen, an energy professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said the state needs to do more to store and sell clean energy sources, and he hopes this week’s blackouts will prompt officials to act.
“This is kind of a stress test on the system,” he said. “We have not built up enough of a smart enough system to take advantage of all the renewables we have in place.”
Customers are asked to reduce energy use through Wednesday night, especially during peak evening hours. State DMV offices were closing at 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday to conserve energy.
Bonnie Wikler, 66, worried about her husband, who is recovering from open heart surgery. She said it was very stressful to lose power twice over the weekend at their Coalinga home in Fresno County where temperatures reached 109 Fahrenheit.
They thought about driving somewhere, but were too afraid of being exposed to the coronavirus so stayed home and cooled themselves with iced water, she said.
“If there was a fire or an earthquake, I would understand, but to cut power without letting you know, it just seems outlandish to me,” Wikler said.
Berberich acknowledged his agency should have given more public notice, saying “We own that and are sorry we didn’t do more.”
In Marin County, officials opened a cooling center but only 21 people visited over the weekend, said spokeswoman Laine Hendricks. The center is equipped with a backup generator and employees are screening for COVID-19 symptoms and making sure people are wearing masks, she said.
“We’re still in a shelter-inplace environment,” Hendricks said. “Even though it’s hot outside, COVID hasn’t gone away.”
California also still faces the threat of power outages to prevent wildfires. Thousands were without power for days last year when Pacific Gas & Electric and other utilities shut off lines amid high, dry winds in order to prevent wildfires.