What Do Calif. Power Woes Mean For Utah?
Jan. 18, 2001– What do California’s power problems mean for Utah? Two things: first, there’s no immediate crisis here. Dave Eskelsen/Utah Power: “CALIFORNIA BLACKOUTS BY THEMSELVES DO NOT CREATE A PROBLEM FOR UTAH. WE ARE NOT IN THE SITUATION CALIFORNIA IS, WE DO HAVE ENOUGH ENERGY TO SUPPLY OUR REGULATED CUSTOMERS.” But, California’s problems mean we will all pay more for our electricity. Here’s why. Our robust economic growth has outstripped our electrical capacity. That means during peak usage, Utah needs to buy power on the wholesale market, and those prices have skyrocketed over the last few years. Dave Eskelsen/Utah Power: “WE BUY A LITTLE BIT OF WHOLESALE POWER TO MEET OUR PEAKING NEEDS, AND THAT’S A BIG PART OF THE RATE INCREASE THAT WE JUST FILED WITH THE UTAH COMMISSION.” Utah Power is seeking a $142 million rate increase. That has at least one elected official asking government offices to save power, in order to save money. Salt Lake County’s new mayor is ordering all three
