Aliso Canyon Gas Shortage Can Lead to Power Outages This Summer

As I am writing this article, it is 107 degrees in Montrose and we are under an excessive heat warning. It could turn out to be a long hot summer. We all need to do our part to conserve as much energy as possible. “Think, Act, Save. We All Have The Power.” That is the motto this summer for Glendale Water and Power, Southern California Edison and So Cal Gas customers in the Crescenta Valley. Through a program called Conserve Energy So Cal (conserveenergysocal.com), a joint effort by the Energy Providers of Southern California, we can all get through the summer without losing power.

Here is what Glendale Water and Power’s General Manager Steve Zurn wants you to know: “You may have heard or seen media stories regarding the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility and the gas shortage that may lead to power outages this summer and possibly [into the] winter. The Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility, owned and operated by the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) in Porter Ranch, is the only natural gas provider to the 17 gas-fired generating plants operating in the Los Angeles Basin. The gas supply is needed to provide reliable power especially during high-energy demand periods.

“In light of the fact that electrical utilities are considered to be ‘non-core’ customers by SoCalGas, GWP and other utilities will be the first curtailed when the gas supply does not meet the gas demand. This affects all utilities in the basin. The unavailability of gas supplied from Aliso Canyon may result in a reduction in the power generation, thus causing electrical service interruptions or rolling outages to customers in Southern California. We are calling on all our customers to be vigilant this summer and respond to our requests to conserve electricity especially on extremely hot days. When temperatures rise, the demand for electricity goes up.

“Glendale Water & Power will reach out to our customers throughout the summer through our energy saving campaign Think, Act, Save. We recommend all customers sign up for Flex Alerts through the California Independent System Operator (ISO) at http://www.flexalert.org/. When Southern California’s demand for energy is high, the California ISO will issue Flex Alerts via text, phone or email to encourage customers to voluntarily reduce their energy usage so that utilities can meet customer demand. If you receive a Flex Alert notification it is an indication that the demand for electricity is approaching supply limitations. If the Flex Alert reaches a Stage 3 alert, and voluntary reduction is not sufficient, a rotating outage may be implemented. GWP has a strong record of providing reliable power and will do everything possible to reduce and avoid service interruptions.”

Follow GWP on Twitter at @COGwaterpower, on Facebook, www.GlendaleWaterAndPower.com and @Conservesocal to know if a peak day alert is called and there is a need for conservation. The cooling center for the Crescenta Valley for families needing relief from the heat is located at the Sparr Heights Community Center, 1613 Glencoe Way, Glendale 91208, (818) 548-2187. It is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and until 7 p.m. during a heat wave, and on Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and until 7 p.m. during a heat wave and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce: Your source for all things local! Our mission is to actively support and enrich the community, vitality and pride of Montrose, to help preserve the historic district and small town atmosphere, to promote economic stability and positive, productive relationships within Montrose and the surrounding communities.

Upcoming events
Ribbon cutting on Tuesday, June 28 at noon at Hummingbird Conservatory, 3531 N. Verdugo Road, Glendale 91208.

July business mixer on Thursday, July 6 at Jenkins Properties, 2626 Honolulu Ave., Montrose.

  melinda clarke