Larry Reisinger
2010-05-05 12:57:55
Yes, high utilization increases vulnerability. Load shifting might help this marginally, but there needs to be reasonable excess capacity in both generation and transmission. Certain places, such as California, are cutting this too closely, especially on the generation side. In 2000, they had severe problems (remember “Greyout Davis”?) and the backup sources that they were used to relying on in the PNW also had hydropower problems due to a very dry winter. California’s problem became Seattle’s problem.
