HELCO warns potential rolling power outages

[Rob Tucker]

Is PGV back online yet?

['elepaio]

" We sleep. We don't have to pull in to a gas station, wait 5 or 10 minutes for the guy in front of us to pay at the register because he doesn't have a credit card, then pump a highly flammable liquid into a tank under the vehicle we sit on top of, oblivious" ...HOTPE ..

Oh the horrors .. Seriously, this is what you going with ? I keep thinking McEnroe here.

Yeah for Kali, The state will flip red before that ever comes into play.

[randomq]

I think long-term, for resiliency against all kinds of disruptions, every home will have some solar and battery storage capacity. At least enough to run the fridge, lights, water pump, and medical equipment.

Perhaps there could be a program where the equipment is (optionally) installed and owned by the utility, so it's not a barrier to affordable housing.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Is PGV back online yet?

From HELCO 8/31:

The request for conservation is prompted by the unexpected shutdown of the island’s largest independent power producer, Hamakua Energy, due to the unavailability of ammonia used for pollution control. Hawaiian Electric’s Hill Plant Unit No. 5 and Puna Steam Plant also are unavailable due to planned annual maintenance and repairs.

Also posted today:
Hawaiian Electric asked Puna Geothermal Venture to operate at maximum possible output. Hamakua Energy Providers is not producing its typical 60 MW. A HECo power plant is undergoing maintenance, creating another 14 MW shortfall.

And a description of our perfect electrical storm brought on by poor planning and short sighted management decisions:

Puna Geothermal Venture provides about 30% of the country’s power. Sen. Wakai wants to see that extended.


“Madam Pele could provide energy for all of the Big Island,” Sen. Wakai said. “All of the state and potentially create hydrogen for export. But we have not fully embraced the immensity of geothermal. If we had 100% geothermal we could care less about ammonia, coal, oil, we would be having an island that is totally self-sufficient.”
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/power-p...requested/

['elepaio]

a little humor

https://babylonbee.com/news/with-energy-...p-by-2035/

BC not everyone has the luxury to charge based on when its available.. cough allowed or based on sleep schedule. My guss. Waiting 5-10 minutes is nothing vs. how long ? and did we die yet from our rolling bombs ?! Pintos and Air cooled VWs aside.

[TomK]

an additional meal really doesn't make much difference in terms of power usage

Mostly true, they have a somewhat fixed cost of opening for business.  But restaurants with grills and gas stoves and kiawe wood ovens use far less electricity than electric ovens.  So way not say that?  Also, a homeowner has a fixed cost of running a fridge which is a high energy appliance.  It uses power whether you eat at a restaurant or at home.  If you have a gas stove it would use less electricity than getting a pizza at a restaurant which uses an electric oven.

And HELCO recommending driving.  It may not use electricity but it'a short sighted in reducing overall energy consumption and our carbon footprint.  Almost like trimming tree branches 6" under the power lines so the tree company needs to come back in a year or two and trim again.

I completely agree. I think HELCO is just looking after themself in the short term first, and driving cars doesn't have an immediate impact on them, so that's their recommendation. They could, of course, recommend visiting a restaurant that doesn't use that much electricity but of course, that would likely mean lowering their profits.

['elepaio]

Ayo Tom,

Did you buy EV or ICE Recently ?

an why ?

[TomK]

Is PGV back online yet?

Pretty sure they were back online in late 2020 although probably not at full capacity.

[Obie]

"Is PGV back online yet?"

Not at full production, They are drilling a new well to replace one they lost to the eruption.

[kalakoa]

California has asked people to stop charging their EVs (between 4pm and 9pm).

https://www.mystateline.com/news/nationa...s-car-ban/

Maybe this whole "car-centric sprawl" was a bad design decision? I would rather walk, if things were close enough, and the laws against free-range dogs were enforced, and the roads were safe. Maybe I should just move to Waikiki.