I am new to the forum(about 1 week) but have not seen any discussion regarding factories going down an hour or so prior to roll-over. I was informed by someone who works on computer switching and controls in local factories. His concern is that if a large number of factories attempt to come back online at the same time, that alone could bring down the power grid. Any opinions on this???

-- Marty Robazek (mprobo@g2a.net), December 02, 1999

Answers

Can't answer that one, but here is a related bit to consider regarding power/fluctuations/spikes AT ANY TIME IN 2000.

Since we don't know IF the Grid will survive the initial moments, only to later die the death of a thousand cuts, it would be wise for anyone out there who uses those very (expensive) energy-efficient ballast-flourescent lights in place of ordinary incandescent light bulbs throughout their home to consider REPLACING them with the el-cheapo light bulbs a few days before JAN. 1/00.

Those energy-efficent types DO NOT like massive power surges, and better to have a 50 cent bulb flare up and then blow than a $15 one!

Which follows through to another VERY important thing--got LOTS of spare light bulbs, just in case there IS power, but unreliable? Count on having AT LEAST 3 or 4 for every socket in the house.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), December 02, 1999.

The power companies know who their big power users are. There will be specific instructions to them about what they can and cannot do, and when they can do it. Most big power users will shut down for the weekend and may not come back on line until off-peak hours.

-- info (infomat@don'tgothere.com), December 02, 1999.

My company is going to shut down all our equipment on the 30th and flip off the breakers for all our manufacturing equipment. The only thing we are leaving on is the heat circuts. They plan to restart everything on monday. Wonder how many companies will do that?

-- BrianNJ (yea@right.com), December 02, 1999.

The powers that be ought to implement a power turn on rule that says somehthing like: A's turn on Monday at the 00 hour, B's turn on Monday at the 01 hour, etc. wher A, B, etc is the first letter of the company name. This would distribute the load more evenly.

-- Tomcat (tomcat@gridiron.com), December 03, 1999.

Brian,

My Co. and my home!!

-- elo (karlacalif@aol.com), December 03, 1999.

Marty,

The problem that the Utilities are worried about is companies turning off everything at 11:30 PM on December 31st and then turning everything back on at 12:30 AM on January 1st, or sooner. Because generation is in real time these abrupt changes could effect the stability of the Grid.

Also there is a concern about everyone turning off everything. Lines that are too lightly loaded have a tendency to rise in voltage. In fact the voltage can be higher at the load end then at the generation end. The upshot is that they dont want everything turned off and then turned on right away but they dont want everything turned off either.

-- The Engineer (The Engineer@tech.com), December 03, 1999.