California Blackouts Back in 2006

The California Energy Commission has released its latest assessment of California's energy future, and it is dark...literally:

Clogged transmission lines and aging power plants could create electricity shortages in Southern California as early as summer 2006, according to a report by the California Energy Commission.

The report, released Friday, paints a dire picture for Southern California in the near future -- with electricity reserves falling well below the reserve margin grid operators say is necessary for a reliable system.

When reserves fall too low, the Independent System Operator, which manages much of California's electricity grid, can order rolling blackouts, cutting power to some areas in order to keep the rest of the grid stable.

In addition to supply and distribution woes, the report notes that demand is rising across the state. Peak electricity use rose more than 6 percent this year, an increase three times what was predicted.

A hint of what could come was seen this summer, when the state broke the all-time record for peak electricity use seven times -- even though temperatures were moderate, said Stephanie McCorkle, a spokeswoman for the Independent System Operator.