FOLSOM, Calif. - (Business Wire) The Humboldt Fire
– which has been burning for two days in the foothills east of Chico, CA
– today caused two-115 kV transmission lines to trip out of service. Those two lines feed power into the city of Paradise and the surrounding area. The loss of those two lines caused a power outage beginning at 3:35 p.m. today in that area. The outage represents approximately 20 MW of load.
Pacific Gas & Electric crews are working to repair damage to one of the two lines but it is unclear at this point when power can be restored. The same fire is also burning near two of the three lines that comprise the California-Oregon Intertie. The California ISO has reduced the flow of power on those lines and is managing the situation. At this point, no additional impact to customers is anticipated because of the fires. The California ISO and PG&E are in close communication and are cooperating to restore power to the Paradise area as soon as possible.
The California ISO is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation charged with managing the flow of electricity along California’s open-market wholesale power grid. The mission of the California ISO is to safeguard the reliable delivery of electricity, and ensure equal access to 25,000 circuit miles of “electron highway.” As the impartial operator of the wholesale power grid in the state, the California ISO conducts a small portion of the bulk power markets. These markets are used to allocate space on the transmission lines, maintain operating reserves and match supply with demand in real time.
California ISO
Gregg Fishman, 888-516-NEWS
