NERC Energy Emergency Alert 3 Report

In compliance with NERC policy 9B

REQUESTING CONTROL AREA:

California ISO

ENTITY EXPERIENCING ENERGY DEFICIENCY (IF DIFFERENT FROM CONTROL AREA):

California ISO

DATE/TIME IMPLEMENTED:

0145 on Wednesday, January 17, 2001

DATE/TIME RELEASED:

0300 on Saturday, January 20, 2001

DECLARED DEFICIENCY AMOUNT (MW):

Does not apply

TOTAL ENERGY SUPPLIED BY OTHER CONTROL AREAS DURING THE ALERT 3 PERIOD:

Undetermined

CONDITIONS THAT PRECIPITATED CALL FOR “ENERGY DEFICIENCY ALERT 3”:

Reduced imports, limited hydro generation availability, Path 15 loading, and an unusually large number of generating units out of service.

IF “ENERGY DEFICIENCY ALERT 3” HAD NOT BEEN CALLED, WOULD FIRM LOAD BE CUT? IF NO, EXPLAIN:

Yes.

EXPLAIN WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN IN EACH STEP TO AVOID CALLING FOR “ENERGY DEFICIENCY ALERT 3”:

1.ALL GENERATION CAPABLE OF BEING ON LINE IN THE TIME FRAME OF THE ENERGY DEFICIENCY WAS ON LINE (INCLUDING QUICK START AND PEAKING UNITS) WITHOUT REGARD TO COST.

Yes.

2.ALL FIRM AND NONFIRM PURCHASES WERE MADE REGARDLESS OF COST.

Yes.

3.ALL NONFIRM SALES WERE RECALLED WITHIN PROVISIONS OF THE SALES AGREEMENT.

Yes.

4.INTERRUPTIBLE LOAD WAS CURTAILED WHERE EITHER ADVANCE NOTICE RESTRICTIONS WERE MET OR THE INTERRUPTIBLE LOAD WAS CONSIDERED PART OF SPINNING RESERVE.

Yes.

5.AVAILABLE LOAD REDUCTION PROGRAMS WERE EXERCISED (PUBLIC APPEALS, VOLTAGE REDUCTIONS, ETC).

Yes.

6.OPERATING RESERVES BEING UTILIZED.

Yes.

COMMENTS:

1/17/01:

Prescheduled interchange imports are much less on the 17th than the 16th.

From approximately 0515 until 2200, all non firm loads were requested to be interrupted. The estimated total of these non firm loads is 1500 MW.

Pump load is curtailed as available. CDWRs water operations have been severely impacted as a result of the many requests for curtailment.

Generation outages (forced and planned) are approximately 10,000 MW.

From 1140 until 1345, the ISO requested PG&E interrupt 500 MW of firm load. Path 15 limits were being exceeded due to hydro generation in northern California that must be backed due to low water levels. During the reduction of those hydro facilities, a thermal plant in central California tripped which in turn created an overload on Path 15.

1/18/01:

Prescheduled interchange imports are still running at much lower levels than needed with the amount of generation that is still out of service (the amount that remains out of service is in the 11,000 MW range).

From 0530 to 2200, approximately 1400 MW of non firm loads were requested to be interrupted.

From approximately 1000 to 1100, the ISO ordered PG&E to interrupt 1,000 MW of firm load. Path 15 limits once again were a major factor in the decision to drop firm load in the Northern California area only. Imports from the Pacific Northwest had to go down at the 1000 hour due to their own loads and critical water levels, as was the case yesterday. Other Northern California hydro units had to be backed due to critical water levels.

From 1100 to 1200, the order to drop firm load in Northern California was reduced to 500 MW. The load was not materializing as was anticipated. It appears that conservation efforts are affecting the forecast.

By 1200, the order was given to restore all firm loads.

1/19/01:

From approximately 0515 to 1430, all non firm loads were requested to be interrupted (estimated at 1400 MW).

REPORTED BY:

Tamara L. Elliott

ORGANIZATION:

California ISO

TITLE:

Emergency Response Coordinator