The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) recently filed a plan to give interstate power exports through its systems a lower priority when demand for power is high and supplies are tight./CAISO)
By David Wichner | Arizona Daily Star
Arizona residents could be at greater risk of blackouts amid summer demand spikes, under a proposal by California’s main grid operator to limit power exports to other states.
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) recently filed a plan to give interstate power exports through its systems a lower priority when demand for power is high and supplies are tight.
But Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Public Service and other Southwest utilities say the plan could make it harder for them to get extra power to cope with extreme summer demand peaks, threatening service reliability.
“Limiting power flows this summer would be disruptive to energy markets during critical peak demand periods and would place electric service reliability at risk,” TEP spokesman Joe Barrios said.
