Hi all,

A question for California list members: are the San Onofre and Diablo
Canyon plants on-line? Just curious.

Incidentally, there was a guest editorial in _Science_ 10 weeks ago
entitled "Decreasing Reliability of Energy". It reads in part:

   Overall consumption of electric power is increasing. It currently
   represents about 40% of energy use in the United States and appears
   likely to rise to as much as 70% by 2050. Will adequate and
   reliable power be available during the next few decades? Those times
   seem far away, but the question is relevant because the electric
   power system cannot be quickly modified to meet future needs.

   The reliability of the energy transmission system is one area where
   trouble is certain if present trends continue. This problem has its
   roots in the 1990s. Federal regulations to enhance competition
   among electric power suppliers helped to reduce rates, but the
   reliability of the electric power system suffered as a consequence.
   A transmission system designed to meet the needs of the 1950s
   was unequal to the task of carrying vast flows of electricity
   between distant areas. Furthermore, during the current decade,
   the demand for electric power is expected to grow by 20%, but
   the planned growth of the transmission system is only 3.5%. ...

-- Bruce


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