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| San Antonio is rapidly approaching the point where demand for power will exceed the capability to produce it. Although power outages and power outage rotation has not yet come to fruition, the impending threat remains.
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*****Update on Power Outages*****
As you may be aware, Texas expects (per the December 2006 announcement) power rotation during shortages within the next year or two. This will most likely begin during severe weather. December 2007 will mark one year since the announcement was made and being that it is only months away, we may very well see some power rotation implemented.
I expected the gas power plants to give an edge over the rest of Texas, however, the announcement made in May 2007 of the 3.2% increase and the power factor increase (see enclosed bulletin) turned out to be 30% in some cases. Therefore, along with the 20% increase at the first of the year (January 2007) this new increase puts us at 50%. We cannot forget about the 30% of the 20% which puts us at a total increase of 56%! This means that about 7 of the 12 spare power plants available are being utilized, and roughly equates to one new plant being activated per month. If this trend continues, in October 2007 we will require 10 of the 12 power plants and so on. By December 2007, if there is any severe weather, we will be already using all twelve spare power plants and will certainly need to start power rotation by the end of the year (2007). Demand is rapidly approaching the point where it will exceed supply. Even though new wind generators (capable of producing 300,000 Watts each) are being erected at a rate of one every few days, the energy demands of new homes and businesses are overcoming the new power very fast!
CPS has not made any data available to inform us, therefore the above appears not to look good! I guess we will see what it looks like in December...
Larry Bowers, Sun Energy Systems San Antonio - June 2007
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| Texas Power Outage Rotation: Preparation
People are preparing for our power rotation to start in one to two years from the date of the Texas Government announcement at the end of 2006. Convential batteries, lamps, and candles are acceptable, but portable power plants support the terrorists and oil gluttons (besides raising your bills!). You can start lowing your bills with free solar power!
Emergency solar methods are attached to this message, but serious solar solutions are the next step. Prices of the serious solar solutions may vary on up to $500 to $1000 or more, but may be done in phases to spread the cost out over a period of time.
Since the payout for Solar Hot Water Systems is the fastest (i.e. 1 year), you may elect to start here. However, DC lights may be more pressing due to the fact that we are using up our spare energy capacity (12 gas power plants) at a rate of one power plant per month! The gas power plants' low energy producing efficiency (13%) is approximately doubling our past bills (of 2006).
Larry Bowers, Sun Energy Systems San Antonio - June 2007
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| *****November 2007 Update*****
Due to the mild weather, we are back to only 3 gas power plants running but CPS has announced that we should expect a 30% bill increase this winter. This means that about 7 of the 12 gas power plants will have to operate in order to generate sufficient power! It may be next summer (summer 2008) before a rate increase takes effect if the weather does not get too bad during the remaining winter season (2007).
Larry Bowers, Sun Energy Systems San Antonio - November 2007
*****January 2008 Update*****
2008 (Jan) Latest News - The 30% increase is delayed for at least a few months
Larry Bowers, Sun Energy Systems San Antonio - January 2008
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