California Independent System Operator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Patrick Dorinson

January 22, 2001 Director of Communications

1 (888) 516-NEWS

STATE REMAINS UNDER STAGE THREE ELECTRICAL EMERGENCY

Conservation is Key as Critically Low Operating Reserves Continue

(Folsom, CA) According to the California Independent System Operator (California ISO), rotating blackouts have not been ordered but they cannot be ruled out for today, Monday, January 22, 2001. Stage Three Electrical Emergency, initially declared Saturday, has been extended to remain in effect until midnight tonight.

The Stage Three declaration enables the California ISO to receive additional emergency assistance from federal and state agencies. Conservation efforts are being recognized on the state’s electrical system and are helping to lessen the severity and duration of outages. All Californians are urged to rededicate their efforts to save as much energy as possible.

The total number of units off line due to planned and unplanned outages is 7,600 megawatts. While this is a great improvement from last week’s 10,500 megawatts, the returned units are located in the southern portion of the state and of little benefit to the north. Once again, Path 15, the state’s main transmission north-south artery is congested and unable to deliver the power to Northern California where it is so desperately needed.

Additional updates will provided as needed

Today’s forecasted peak demand is 32,187 megawatts at approximately 6:00 p.m.

Stage One and Stage Two emergencies were also extended from Saturday and remain in effect until midnight.

-- PHO (owennos@bigfoot.com), January 22, 2001