Green California has the nation's worst power grid

[Elderberry]

Washington Examiner by Steve Goreham August 18, 2020

More than a million Californians suffered power blackouts last Friday evening. When high temperatures caused customer demand to exceed the power available, California electrical utilities used rotating outages to force a reduction in demand. The California grid is the worst in the nation, with green energy policies pursued by the state likely furthering reduced grid reliability.

At 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Pacific Gas and Electric, California’s biggest utility, began shutting off power in rolling outages to force a reduction in demand. Southern California Edison also denied power to homes, beginning just before 7 p.m. Shutoffs impacted a rotating group of up to 2 million customers until 11 p.m.

The California Independent System Operator declared a Stage Three Electrical Emergency, the first such emergency since 2001. Spot electricity prices soared to more than $1,000 per megawatt-hour, more than 10 times the usual price.

In 2018, 19% of California’s electricity came from rooftop and utility-scale solar installations, the highest percentage in the nation. But by 6:30 p.m. each day, that solar output approaches zero. The state lacks enough reliable electricity generation capacity to run everyone's air conditioner during hot summer evenings.

California has the least reliable electrical power system in the United States. It isn't even close. According to data by Eaton Corporation, the Golden State leads the U.S. in power outages every year, with more than twice as many as any other state over the last decade.

More: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/green-california-has-the-nations-worst-power-grid

[catfish1957]

As Californians have frozen and baked in the extreme heat or cold, I hope they remember this November 3rd.

[Hoodat]

In 2018, 19% of California’s electricity came from rooftop and utility-scale solar installations, the highest percentage in the nation. But by 6:30 p.m. each day, that solar output approaches zero.

If only someone could have predicted this would happen.

[catfish1957]

If only someone could have predicted this would happen.

   Chuckle of the day...  nice job.

[DB]

And... California's cost of electricity is at least twice as high as neighboring states...

Costs more and is less reliable... Real technology leaders they are...

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Maybe someone should go back and dredge up the Enron story and determine whether it was California, not Enron, that caused the mayhem back then in prices and supply.

It could be revealing and maybe the wrong guy was charged and convicted.

[Elderberry]

California May Have Had Big Role in Enron's Fall

NY Times By Alex Berenson  May 9, 2002

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/09/business/california-may-have-had-big-role-in-enron-s-fall.html

One of the deepest mysteries in the collapse of Enron has been the role that the power crisis in California played in the company's rise and fall.

This spring, as authorities focused their attention on the off-balance-sheet partnerships that Enron used to inflate its profits, it seemed that the question might be forever buried under more pressing inquiries.

Now, though, newly released documents about Enron's practices during the crisis in 2000 and 2001 are causing regulators and prosecutors to re-examine the connection. Some outside experts say they may find that California played a crucial role in the company's demise.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

California May Have Had Big Role in Enron's Fall

NY Times By Alex Berenson  May 9, 2002

https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/09/business/california-may-have-had-big-role-in-enron-s-fall.html

I thought so.

And I had always suspected it was the jealousy of NY WallStreeters who brought down the darling company from Texas, a place where companies are not supposed to be darlings.