EPRI Solutions for Next Western Power Crisis

During the past summer, the Electric Power Research Institute suggested solutions to the 11-state Western power grid's next crisis: To download the plan in its entirety from the Web, including a total of 18 specific recommendations for action, go to: www.epri.com From Pure Power, Winter 2001.

By Staff December 1, 2001

During the past summer, the Electric Power Research Institute suggested solutions to the 11-state Western power grid’s next crisis:

  • Upgrade existing power plants to increase their capacity by 5% via advantage maintenance procedures and cost-effective retrofits.

  • Fix the problems in wholesale and retail power markets.

  • Improve existing transmission capacity to achieve more throughput.

  • Pursue a balance portfolio of generation sources to avert an over-reliance on natural gas.

  • Move faster to interconnect distributed generation into the grid.

  • Come up with a comprehensive plan for power supply that anticipates the escalating power use of a digital society.

To download the plan in its entirety from the Web, including a total of 18 specific recommendations for action, go to: www.epri.com

From Pure Power, Winter 2001.