A CLOSER LOOK -- Don’t count those blackouts out yet

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT-MESA -- Rolling blackouts.

Those words only represented a possibility for Southern California for

several months until last week, when they more than made good on the

threat.

The blackouts shocked a number of Costa Mesa and Newport Beach

residents as their lives were short-circuited for several hours. Fashion

Island stores shut their doors fearing shoplifters. On Fairview Road in

Costa Mesa, confused motorists were tentative as they drove through

inoperative traffic lights.

With the imminent threat of blackouts gone at least for a while, the

question that remains is: Is this the end?

“Probably not,” said Steve Hansen, spokesman for Southern California

Edison. “All we know, at this point, is that power supplies are going to

be very tight.”

In the event of increased power usage or loss of generators, another

round of rolling blackouts is very likely, said Hansen. Although it is

tough to predict which areas will get hit next time, he said it is

possible that areas that were affected during the recent blackouts, will

be spared next time.

The state is now in the “warning” stage, power-wise, according to

California Independent System Operators.

“It depends,” said spokeswoman Kristina Werst. “Things could change

very fast.”

The warning stage precedes the stages 1, 2 and 3 power alerts. It

means the operators are experiencing a shortage and are looking for

buyers and sellers.

Operators try to maintain a 7% reserve at all times and when that

falls short, the blackout clock begins to tick, said Werst.

“Right now, we’re trying to keep it at a balance,” she said. When the

reserve falls to 5%, a Stage 2 alert is announced, and when it dips to

1.5%, there is a Stage 3.

GEARING UP FOR DARKNESS

Local authorities have already started preparing for that eventuality,

one that could happen virtually at any time.

Costa Mesa officials say what concerns them most about the blackouts

are unlit traffic lights. The city is in the process of developing a

backup plan for major intersections during power outages, said Public

Services Director Bill Morris.

Morris said the city hopes to get funding during the next fiscal year

for battery-operated backup systems. These work like car batteries and

are charged by electricity under normal conditions. But in case of a

power outage, the batteries keep the lights alive for four to six hours

before they die out.

“That seems like a good enough backup because blackouts typically

don’t last for more than a couple of hours,” Morris said.

The city of Laguna Niguel recently considered setting up these systems

and Costa Mesa is thinking about it after two Tuesday morning crashes on

Fairview that were caused by drivers failing to stop at intersections

where the lights were out.

The units cost $4,000 per intersection and the city is looking to

power 20 to 25 major intersections, Morris said.

City Hall, the Fire Department and the Police Department are equipped

with generators that will keep them running even in case of a power

failure, he said.

TRAFFIC TRAVAILS

Newport Beach has been working closely with Edison to make sure grids

that power major systems such as water and sewage are not turned off

unless an absolute emergency arises, said Public Works Director Don Webb.

The city, like Costa Mesa, is most concerned about traffic lights, he

said.

“We have 120 traffic intersections,” said Webb. “There is no way that

we can provide 120 generators. Nor can we place stop signs at every

intersection.”

He said Newport Beach drivers will be expected to follow the vehicle

code, which dictates that if lights fail at an intersection, drivers must

treat the situation like a four-way stop sign.

Both cities also believe energy conservation will play a significant

role in whether or not their neighborhoods will be affected during future

blackouts.

About half of Newport Beach’s energy expenditure is caused by water

pumping, Webb said.

“If citizens conserve on water, it cuts down on electricity and helps

in the conservation effort,” he said.

In Costa Mesa, the city is trying to create awareness by distributing

literature on energy conservation, Morris said.

City Hall is also taking the lead on conservation by turning on the

air conditioner an hour late and shutting it an hour early, he said.

“It gets a little uncomfortable at times,” said Morris. “But anything

we can do helps.”

Residents say they are happy to conserve, but that they are disturbed

and suspicious of power companies and “political games.”

“I think it all boils down to greed,” said Costa Mesa resident Jeff

Kirst. “People are in a lot of hurry to make money.”

Deregulation did not quite turn out to be what was expected, said

Vicki McGuinness of Costa Mesa.

“I think the blame gets spread around,” she said. “The state

government, power company, independent operators. (Deregulation) has not

been a good thing.”