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Calif. ISO Sees Power Demand Increasing 2,000 MW By Wed

Updated: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 03:54 PM ET LOS ANGELES (Dow Jones)--California is heading into its first warm spell of the season, with demand on the power grid expected to increase 2,000 megawatts by Wednesday due to a projected 10-degree-Fahrenheit rise in temperature, the California Independent System Operator said Tuesday.

Earlier this week, demand on the grid peaked at 28,835 MW, and it is expected to top 30,500 MW by Wednesday, the ISO said in a press release.

Electricity supplies are tight due to low hydroelectric imports from the Pacific Northwest, more than 10,000 MW of power plants off-line for maintenance, and about 3,000 MW of alternative energy suppliers not operating because they haven't been paid for past power deliveries to utilities, the ISO said.

Tight power supplies are expected to persist through the summer in the West, and rolling blackouts are likely. As a result, electricity forward prices have been steadily climbing for months.

-By Jessica Berthold; Dow Jones Newswires; 323-658-3872; jessica.berthold@dowjones.com

http://quicken.excite.com/investments/news_center/article/printer.dcg?story=/news/stories/dj/20010424/BT20010424007453.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), April 24, 2001