Effects of the drought on California electricity supply and demand

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Abstract
At the end of the driest year on record, California faces water shortages whose impacts will be felt with progressive severity through the summer and fall of 1977. Electric power is not entirely exempt from these impacts and could, if severly affected, compound the direct distresses of the drought. Each of the major California electric utility companies has forecasted the short-term effects on electricity supply and demand in its service area. The study reported here undertook an independent analysis to provide a statewide assessment of impacts and remedial actions and to develop additional analytical tools and data for these purposes. The study examined various aspects of the drought as it relates to electricity supply and demand, reliability of supply to meet summer peak loads, the efficacy of conservation measures, and probable increases in power plant emissions and cost of generating electricity. The results of the study, based in part on the 1977 electricity supply and demand projections submitted by the four utilities to the California Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (CERCDC), support the utilities' conclusions that the three southern California utilities have sufficient reserve capacity and fuel to meet their own needs and to assist PG and E inmore » meeting its load demand with little loss of reliability. However, to achieve this the utilities in their submissions have had to assume: 1) full coordination among the utilities; and 2) no air pollution limitations on electricity generation in the South Coast Air Basin. 32 references.« less

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