Patch Poll: Summer Power Outages

San Diego and portions of the Los Angeles Basin may face power shortages this summer if both units of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station remain offline, according to a report issued today by the California Independent System Operator Corp. 

"Safety is the top priority during ongoing inspections and testing of the nuclear power plant," said Steve Berberich, president and chief executive officer of the California Independent System Operator Corp., the grid operator for the majority of California's electric transmission system. "Fortunately, there are resource options available to help mitigate reliability risks. We are actively working with San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and others because prudent mitigation planning takes adequate lead time and summer heat is only a couple months away."

Unit 3 of the plant south of San Clemente has been shut down since Jan. 31, after station operators detected a leak in one of its steam generator tubes. Its two steam generators are undergoing extensive testing and inspections in order to fully assess their condition and the cause of the leak. 

Unit 2 was taken down for planned maintenance Jan. 9.

Neither unit will return to operation "until we are satisfied it is safe to do so," said Jennifer Manfre, Southern California Edison's senior manager of media relations.

Technical studies presented at today's Cal-ISO board meeting show very tight reserve margins for San Diego and the Los Angeles Basin, especially during potential summer heat waves, which could mean rolling black outs and brown outs for much of the region.