LAT: Record Power Usage Accompanies California Heat Wave

[DeepModem Mom]

Record Power Usage Accompanies Heat Wave
By Michael Muskal, Times Staff Writer
3:46 PM PDT, July 17, 2006

Electricity usage in California set a record this afternoon because a numbing heat pushed up demand as the state and much of the nation sweltered through the kind of temperatures that turned sidewalks into skillets.

For the third day, the California Independent System Operator remained on power watch, urging consumers to conserve electricity by lowering thermostats, using fans and starting big appliances in off-peak hours.

By afternoon, 46,560 megawatts were being used, according to the Cal ISO website. The previous record peak was 45,431 megawatts, set last year on July 20.

The agency was optimistic that it could meet today's power demands without having to resort to harsher conservation measures.

"The big news is that we're busting through the all-time record peak demand for electricity without even hitting a Stage One electrical emergency," said Stephanie McCorkle, director of communications....

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-071706power,0,5497908.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[fasttense]

So where is ENRON when you really need them? Oh, never mind. n/t

[NC_Nurse]

1. Now that Enron's gone

there's no problem. Hmmmmm....

[msongs]

2. our thermostat is at 86 degrees - comfy enuff with fans on

when it starts to feel too warm, we go outside and come back inside :-)

Msongs
www.msongs.com/6for2008.htm

[gristy]

3. The temp here hit 97 today

My house is a comfortable 76 now and never got above 77. Got some insulation put on the (flat) roof a few months ago and it's wonderful.

[Cha]

4. Satifaction from

a job well done!