Greg LaMotte: How California is coping with its ongoing power crunch

Greg LaMotte

CNN Los Angeles Correspondent Greg LaMotte is covering the ongoing electricity shortage in California. Officials don't see any quick solution to the crisis.

Q. Is the situation getting worse?

LAMOTTE: The situation is far worse than it was Wednesday. Wednesday the state started off 9,000 megawatts of short of meeting demand. Today, the state is 18,000 megawatts short. While Southern California was barely able to avert rolling blackouts Wednesday, people in charge of the state's electricity grid say they're not sure where they're going to get extra power needed Thursday to avoid the blackouts.

Q. What are officials doing about the crisis?

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LAMOTTE: The governor has declared a state of emergency and is ordering the state to buy power as a stopgap measure until a permanent solution can be found. But the problem Thursday is as it has been for months -- demand is exceeding supply.

Q. Are there any long-term plans for coping with the growing demand for electricity in California?

LAMOTTE: Five new power plants are under construction in a state where no major power plants have been built in 10 years. That's the good news. The bad news is that the first plant won't go on line until the end of summer 2001.

Energy officials are saying the state could face rolling blackouts for months to come and, if so, there is real fear California's robust economy could be brought to its knees in the process.

Q. Could you give a specific example of how the power outage is affecting individuals?

LAMOTTE: For the person sitting at home, if the lights go off, it's an aggravation given the fact that the blackouts only last 90 minutes to two hours. But imagine for a moment the power goes out when you've just put your bankcard into a teller machine or you just dropped by the cleaners to pick up your clothes because you have flight to catch and you can't get your clothes.

Q. What about businesses and facilities like airports and hospitals?

LAMOTTE: For those who own businesses, the rolling blackouts represent lost income and increased danger. Security cameras can't operate and the business owners are in a much more insecure position to protect their stores.

Those who operate the power grid can protect hospitals, police stations, airports and other venues.

Q. Is the energy crisis affecting the California economy yet?

LAMOTTE: The big concern is that the more that is said and written (by the media), certainly it becomes a deterrent for businesses thinking about locating in California. As long as they're concerned power prices are going to be outrageous, it might dissuade them from moving here.

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Dynegy
PG&E Corporation
SoCal Edison
  • Deregulation - What this means to you - Electricity Market Issues
System Conditions - The California ISO
California Public Utilities Commission
California Utilities Emergency Association

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