The News Where We Are

[edith]

Somehow, this is an exact duplicate of the one above labeled general. We have so few to use and are so limited because of it, that I thought I would see if I could somehow break it loose and we could actually discuss our neighborhoods here.

I had to scrape the frost off my windows this am and hear that will be happening a lot this fall and winter. The last few years have been mild so this is a change for us.

[Snowden]

It's like summer here today, Edith. I'm looking out my window at a back yard full of bluebirds. They usually come by in October, but this year everything is happening a month or so later than usual.

A late winter, or no real winter? I would imagine the first. If it cuts down on the heat of next summer, it is doubly welcome. I'm not Pogo, and living in a swamp isn't what I had in mind when we moved here - had no idea it was the wetlands, and wouldn't have know just what that meant anyway.

We should have researched the area as Norman and his wife did theirs before moving - but this house was perfect for us at that time and the neighbors are sufficiently far away that we have complete peace and quiet here. So we may have come here anyway. It is really lovely - except for the mosquitos in summer.

Have I remarked on mosquitos before? :D

I don't like them.

[norman]

Something different.

Yesterday I recieved the quarterly magazine from the utility company I retired from. A brief article explained that they were going to shut down one of their coal fired generation units. They included information that if they were to begin operation again with the plant they would have to comply with all new environmental regulations concerning clean air. That sounds costly but if the plant was kept up to date over the years which it was, any new technology would not be that expensive to install. I believe for tax purposes it can be written off as an operating expense.

The utility industry is public which means they comply with rules & regulations but aren't run by the government. They are free to make decisions which are financially sound, profitable & enhance investor confidence.

This particular company spent a lot of operating capital on transmission lines before regulations caused electric utilities to devide the generation & distribution parts of the business. This company over the years had also petitioned the PUC to build extra generation in anticipation of future use. They were granted that ability. What does this mean? It means that the company doesn't have to spend money now to improve its transmission capability & that it can close the coal fired plant without causing shortage of power to its present customer base.

Sounds really good so far. A well run company that anticipated future events. They still are!!!! Prior to this when California was paying outrageous prices for electricity this company had plans in place to build 6 new generating plants in the south west. Those plans were cancelled. I don't know how many other plans were cancelled by other utilities but I do know plans were cancelled. Meanwhile California utilities are playing catch up on building generation.

What does this translate to? Think about what happens when supply meets demand. Then think about what happens when demand exceeds supply.

Either way in a few more years electric utility companies will need additional price support to operate. Those companies that have good transmission capability and plants closed in reserve will be positioned to make their investors very happy.

[edith]

I enjoyed that article, norman. I remember the debacle in California very well. Too bad that government involvement frequently strangles planning ahead and being prepared.

[norman]

Edith the article didn't detail the lack of good transmission lines through out America. Nor did it mention stopping construction plans of new generation which will be needed in the not to distant future .

Another feature that isn't widely known is that many utilities locked in power sales contracts most of which will expire in about two years.

Much of what caused California's electricity grief was due to generation not being built due to the NIMBY syndrome. Not In My Back Yard. Environmentalists helped too. The utilities in order to keep costs low did what any company would do. Don't build more generatinon, just sell what you have & buy any extra that is needed.

Enron wasn't a power producer it was a buy & sell intermeadiary that got caught gouging. Some of the companies that had extra power to sell; sold at a higher price through Enron. Those companies were fined while Enron collapsed.

What does this all mean ? It means that in a couple of years the demand for power will out strip the ability to produce. The government isn't responsible for the electric utility industry or can't force them to spend money now without raising rates to pay for any new projects.

We as a country; not only California will be looking at the need to build more generation & if coal fired installing all new technology required. Transmission lines, sub stations, and everything else related to power supply. Since the technology to reduce emissions will be going into new plants & not ones that only have to be updated the cost could be astronomical.

All in all the price of electricity will be a significant part of the family budget. The utility regulators will have no choice but to raise rates to pay for the improvements.

There are some very good electric utility companies operating now that will do even better in the comming years.

[OneSG]

Fossil fuels are expiring fast. Should not governments be encouraging self-sufficiency? If this were the case we would be looking to renewable energy sources as individuals. Pollution has never been so bad. Much of this comes from burning fossil fuel.
The oceans are so full of refuse it is alarming. The Mediterranean Sea is so polluted it would take almost 100 years for it to return to a pollution free state if effluent was stopped being dumped there NOW. It will not be so as tons more are washed in daily. All of this could be used on the land too. Years ago it was. Man is killing the planet and, indirectly, killing himself. Technology is such now that our lifestyles could be maintained without the pollution. Anyone would think women were in charge.