The Gas Company and So. Cal. Edison Team Up For A Potentially Bad Summer

Don't you dare use your air conditioning

Mod: The big revelation in this week's City Manager's Report (link) is that So. Cal. Edison might occasionally run out of electricity this summer. The reason? The Gas Company. Don't you love it when big monopoly utilities work together? What follows are the reasons why this may happen.

IMPACTS OF ALISO CANYON NATURAL GAS LEAK TO BE FELT ACROSS SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - Director Inman attended a breakfast meeting Wednesday morning that was hosted by Southern California Gas Company (SoCal). The meeting was held for the purpose of beginning to get the word out that the temporary closure of SoCal’s Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Storage Facility is going to have an effect across all of the Southern California service area.

Aliso Canyon comprises what is by far the highest capacity (86 billion cubic feet) storage area in the So. Cal. system. That gas storage serves as a critical buffer between gas supplies coming in from out of state and local demand. Without that buffer in operation, gas supplies may not meet demand during peak periods, such as hot summer afternoons.

Attendees learned that 61% of Southern California’s electrical energy is generated at gas-fired generation plants operated by Edison and various municipal agencies. In the event of natural gas shortage, SoCal will reduce its flow to those major gas users rather than risking loss of operating pressure in the distribution system.

Every effort will be made to avoid loss of gas service to residential areas; however the effect of the loss of local gas storage may be seen in the increased frequency of electrical ‘brownouts’ across Southern California. More information can be found at www.conserveenergysocal.com.

The Gas Company has requested assistance from local agencies to get the word out about the heightened need to reduce electricity demands at peak afternoon times throughout the summer. To that end, staff has invited a Gas Company representative to make a presentation on the subject at an upcoming meeting, and information will be posted on the City’s website and disseminated via e-blast.

Mod: The easy solution for Edison is to force you to conserve. And if you don't? Then the service interruptions will be at least in part your fault. That is pretty much how the story usually goes, right? Blame the customer. Also check the "conservation incentive" penalty located in the upper right hand corner of your Edison bill. They are probably already fining you and you don't even know it yet. But it is all for your own good, of course. Even when it is not.

sierramadretattler.blogspot.com