Read this post, then go turn off your computer. As fun as August 14th 2003 was, I don’t need it again. Not today – it’s just too hot. Today is the first time this summer that IMO/IESO/IEMO has issued a Pubilc Appeal for Power Conservation.
I’ve already turned off all the CRTs I’m not using, and even shutting down warm-spare servers at some of my client’s sites. If we do end up in a power-crisis again, at least the UPSes will run longer powering 1/3rd less load. With that thought in mind, something did happen yesterday; between 1600 and 1800, the overall grid voltage dropped significantly and the price skyrocketed to over $300/MW… I haven’t done much research yet, but my theory is that a prime generation facility unexpectedly went offline – just as the peak hours began. Bad stuff. If something like that happens again today, it might destabilize the grid, causing selective blackouts. And that’s if they catch it on time. If they don’t… it’s August 2003 all over again. That is why I monitor this stuff so much. See the Voltage graph below.
Bad enough was the storm we had blow throught last night, started at 11PM and continued till about 4AM… Which incidentally, is the time my UPS at Condor ‘blipped’ and I lost my router. Doh. The unfortunate part about the storm is that the humidity will possibly be higher than anticipated today… when they’re calling for a high of 35C (pre-humidex), I can only dread what that’s going to feel like. This is the kind of weather that kills people.
(20060731 to 20060801)