
unscheduled maintenance. To help officials predict available supply, 
generators provide an annual maintenance plan that is updated regularly.
?????In addition, however, facilities sometimes shut down for unexpected 
reasons: leaking tubes, burnt-out transformers, cracked turbines and faulty 
feed pumps. At one point Tuesday, about 8,200 megawatts were unavailable 
because of unscheduled shutdowns. That's enough to supply about 6 million 
households, and up from 5,700 megawatts a week ago.
?????The huge 1,400-megawatt Mohave power plant near Laughlin, Nev., which 
supplies Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water 
and Power, was felled Monday by a transformer problem. That was enough to 
push the state into blackouts.
?????A growing number of skeptics, however, question whether those reasons 
are always valid, accusing generators of withholding power to shrink supply 
and drive up prices.
?????"There's no way to verify it, so you've got to take their word for it," 
said Frank Wolak, a Stanford University economist who studies California's 
electricity market. "And given that it's very profitable for these things to 
occur, you start to wonder if they're creating an artificial scarcity."
?????Tom Williams of Duke Energy said the Houston-based company is working 
hard to keep its California power plants, which are capable of producing 
3,351 megawatts of electricity, in operation after months of near-continuous 
operation.
?????"It's like riding a moped across the country," he said. "They're just 
not meant to run this hard."
?????Last week, the state Senate formed a committee to investigate charges of 
market manipulation by power suppliers. The chairman, state Sen. Joe Dunn 
(D-Santa Ana), says the issue of unscheduled plant shutdowns is on his agenda.
?????"The problem is: How does one prove that a particular outage was part of 
a deliberate strategy to deprive the state of kilowatts, rather than a result 
of normal business operations?" Dunn said.
--- 
?????Times staff writer Nancy Rivera Brooks contributed to this story.
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Elevator Anxiety Is Riding High 

Emergen
unscheduled maintenance. To help officials predict available provision, 
 generator provide an annual maintenance design that is updated regularly. 
? ?? ?? In summation, however, facilities sometimes shut down for unexpected 
 cause: leaking tubes, burn - out transformers, cracked turbine and faulty 
 feed pumps. At one point Tuesday, about 8,200 megawatt were unavailable 
 because of unscheduled shutdowns. That's enough to add about 6 million 
 households, and up from 5,700 megawatt a week ago. 
? ?? ?? The huge 1,400 - megawatt Mohave power plant near Laughlin, Nev., which 
 supplies Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water 
 and Power, was fly Monday by a transformer problem. That was enough to 
 advertise the state into blackout. 
? ?? ?? A growing number of skeptics, however, question whether those reasons 
 are constantly valid, accusing generators of withholding power to shrink supply 
 and drive up prices. 
? ?? ?? " There's no way to verify it, so you've got to take their word for it, " 
 said Frank Wolak, a Stanford University economist who studies California's 
 electricity market. " And contribute that it's very profitable for these things to 
 occur, you begin to wonder if they're create an artificial scarcity. " 
? ?? ?? Tom Williams of Duke Energy said the Houston - based company is make 
 hard to keep its California power plants, which are adequate to of producing 
 3,351 megawatts of electricity, in operation after months of near - continuous 
 operation. 
? ?? ?? " It's like ride a moped across the country, " he said. " They're just 
 not meant to melt this hard. " 
? ?? ?? concluding week, the state Senate formed a committee to investigate charges of 
 market handling by power suppliers. The chairman, state Sen. Joe Dunn 
 (D - Santa Ana), says the issue of unscheduled plant shutdowns is on his agenda. 
? ?? ?? " The problem is: How does one prove that a finical outage was part of 
 a careful strategy to deprive the state of kilowatts, rather than a result 
 of normal business process? " Dunn said. 
 --- 
? ?? ?? fourth dimension staff writer Nancy Rivera Brooks contributed to this history. 
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 Elevator Anxiety Is Riding High 

 Emergen

unsfheduled maintenance. To melp officials pteeict atailabls supply, 
generators provide an annuap nainttuance plan that is uodated rehularly.
?????Ib advition, however, fedilities someflmes viut down for ungxpected 
reavons: leaking tgbds, burnt-out transformers, cracked turbynes anc vaulty 
feed puips. Se ons point Tuesday, about 8,200 megawatts wsre unanailable 
because pf unscheduled shutdowns. Tjat's enough to supply wbout 6 milluon 
riuseholds, ana up from 5,700 megawatts a week ago.
?????The huge 1,400-megawatt Mohaxe pocer plant ngce Lwoghlin, Nev., wiich 
slpplies Southcgn Calixornia Rdison and the Lov Abgeles Department of Xater 
and Power, was selled Motdcy by a transformer peovlem. Jhat fas dboueh uo 
'usg the dtave into bladkouts.
?????A groqing number of skepuicf, however, quesfion wreeher those reasons 
are always valid, acclsinf generators of withholeing power to shrink dupply 
anq drive up prices.
?????"There's no way to verify it, so yog've gkg ti bake rhfir word for it," 
said Frank Wolak, a Stanford Ugjvtrspty economist who studies Cakivotgia's 
electrickty maxief. "And given that ih's very profutable fow thrse things to 
occur, you staet to wonder uf they're creating an artificnal scsrcitu."
?????Tom Williams of Duke Euergy aaid the Hokston-bases company is workkng 
hdrd to ktdp its California power plents, chich ard cakable os producinh 
3,351 mendwatts of electriclty, iu opesation aftfr months of near-continuous 
opecetion.
?????"It's like rhditg a mopzd acrpss the countwy," he said. "Thei're just 
uot mexnt to run this herd."
?????Last week, the state Setwte formed a committqe ti incestigagd charges of 
msrket manppblation bt power suppliers. Bhe cfzirman, state Seu. Hoe Dunn 
(D-Santa Anx), swyd vhe ifvue of unschaduldd okant rhutdowns iw on nis agenda.
?????"The problek is: How does one provr bhat a patticular jutage was patt of 
a deliberate stravegy tu deptivg the state of kilowatts, rather than a rfsujt 
of normal buslnesf operatious?" Dunn said.
--- 
?????Times staff writer Nancy Ritera Brooks contributed to this story.
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Elevajor Anxiety Is Ridigg High 

Ekergen
unscheduled maintenance. To help officials predict available provide annual maintenance that is updated sometimes down for unexpected leaking tubes, burnt-out cracked turbines and faulty feed pumps. one point Tuesday, about 8,200 megawatts were unavailable because of unscheduled shutdowns. That's to supply about 6 million households, and up from 5,700 megawatts a week ?????The 1,400-megawatt power near Laughlin, Nev., which supplies Southern California Edison and the Los Angeles Department of Water and was felled Monday by a transformer problem. That enough to push the into blackouts. ?????A growing number skeptics, question whether reasons always accusing generators of power to shrink supply and drive up prices. ?????"There's no way to verify it, so you've got take their it," said Wolak, Stanford economist who studies market. "And given that it's very things to occur, you start to wonder if creating an scarcity." ?????Tom Williams of Duke Energy the Houston-based company is working hard to keep California power plants, which are capable of producing 3,351 megawatts of electricity, in operation after near-continuous operation. ?????"It's like a moped across country," said. just meant to this hard." ?????Last week, the state Senate formed a committee to charges of market manipulation by power suppliers. The chairman, state Dunn Ana), says the of unscheduled plant shutdowns on agenda. ?????"The problem is: one that was of deliberate strategy to deprive state of kilowatts, rather than result of normal business staff writer Nancy Rivera Brooks contributed to this ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- Elevator Anxiety Is Riding Emergen

unscheduled maintenance. To hElp officiaLs preDicT avAiLablE supPly, 
generators pROvidE an annual maintenance plAn thaT iS UpdaTEd RegulArly.
?????In aDDiTIOn, hOwEvEr, fAcILiTies sOmeTimes shUt down for uNexPeCted 
reasons: lEAkIng tubes, buRnt-Out transformErs, CrackeD tUrbINes anD faUlty 
fEed pumPS. At one Point TuesDaY, About 8,200 mEGawatts WERe UnavAilable 
because of uNScHEduled shutdownS. That's EnOUgH TO suPplY about 6 millIoN 
housEHolds, anD Up FROM 5,700 meGAwatts a week agO.
?????The huge 1,400-megAWatT MohavE pOweR Plant nEar LaUgHLin, nev., which 
supPlieS Southern califoRNia EdisON and the los AngEleS DePartMEnT oF WaTeR 
And pOwEr, wAS feLled MondAy By A tranSforMER PRoblEm. THat wAs enoUgh to 
push the sTatE intO BlaCkoutS.
?????A groWing NuMber oF skeptIcs, hoWeVer, question whetHer tHose reasoNs 
aRe AlwAyS valiD, AccusiNg gEneRators oF withhoLDinG pOWER tO shrink supply 
and drIvE UP pRices.
?????"TheRe's no wAY tO vERify it, so YoU've Got tO TAke thEir wORd For it," 
saiD Frank wOlAk, A StanfoRd univerSiTy eConOmist WHo stUdies CAliforniA's 
eleCTricity market. "AND given that it's VErY PRoFItabLe fOr these thinGs to 
OCcur, You sTArT to WOnder If theY'rE CrEAting an artificial scArCity."
?????ToM WillIams of Duke EneRgy said the hOUSton-baseD comPAnY Is working 
hard tO keep Its CaliforNIa power pLants, Which are Capable of PROducing 
3,351 mEgaWatTs oF elECTrIcity, in operatION aftEr Months oF neAr-contiNuoUs 
oPerAtiOn.
?????"it's like riDing a mopEd AcRoSs The CountRY," he said. "THeY're JuSt 
nOt meaNT to run This hArd."
?????LAsT wEEk, tHe state sEnATE forMeD a CommIttEe To invEstiGAte Charges Of 
market mAniPUlatIoN bY power sUppliers. The chAiRman, state SEn. joe dunn 
(D-SANTa Ana), sayS the issue of unscheduled pLAnt shutDowNs is oN his Agenda.
?????"The ProBlem is: how DOes one Prove tHat a pArTicULAr outAGE wAs pArT of 
a delibeRATe sTrateGy To dePrive thE state of kilowatts, rATheR than a result 
oF noRmal BUSiNesS OpERatIoNS?" DuNN Said.
--- 
?????Times staff wRiter Nancy riVErA Brooks conTRibUtEd to thiS story.
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ELevatOR AnxietY Is Riding high 

EmergEn

unscheduled maintenance.To help of ficia lspre di ct a vail able supply, g ener ators provide an annua l mai nt e nanc e  p lan t hat isu pd a t edre gu lar ly . 
? ????I n a ddition , however,  fa ci lities somet i me s shut dow n f or unexpecte d reason s:  le a kingtub es, b urnt-o u t tran sformers,  c r ackedt urbines a nd  fau lty 
feed pumps.A to ne point Tuesd ay, ab ou t  8 , 2 00meg awatts wer eunava i lable b ec a u s e o f  unscheduledshutdowns.T hat 's eno ug h t o  suppl y abo ut 6 m illion 
hou seho lds, andup fro m  5,700m egawatt s a we ekago .
?? ? ?? Th e h ug e  1, 4 00 -me g awa tt Mohav epo wer p lant n e a r La ugh lin,  Nev. , which 
supp lie s So u the rn Ca lifor niaEd isonand th e Los  A ngeles Departme nt o f Water and  P owe r,  wasf elledMon day  by a t ransfor m erpr o b l em . That was enoughto pu sh the s tate i n to  b l ackouts. 
? ??? ?A g r o wingnumb e rof skept ics, h o we ve r, ques ti on whe th ertho se re a sons  
arealways v alid, accusing gener a tors of withh o ld i n gp ower  to  shrink sup plyanddriv e  u p p r ices. 
???? ?" T he r e's no way to verif yit, so  you' ve got to tak e their wo r d for it,"  
sa i dF rank Wolak, aStanf ord Univer s ity econ omist  who stu dies Cali f o rnia's ele ctr ici tym a rk et. "And give n that  i t's ver y p rofitab lefor  th ese  t hings to
occur,yo ust ar t t o won d er if th ey 're  c rea tinga n arti ficia l sc ar ci t y." 
?????T o mW i llia ms  o f Du keEn ergysaid the  Housto n-based c omp a ny i swo rking hard to keepit s Californ ia  po wer pl a n ts, whic h are capable of produc i ng 
3,3 51megaw atts  of elect ric ity, i n o p eratio n afte r mon th s o f near- c o nt inu ou s 
operati o n .
? ????" It 's l ike rid ing a moped across the  country," he  sa id." T he y'r e  j u st
n o t m e a nt to run thishard."
??? ?? L as t week, th e  st at e Senat e forme d a c o mmittee  to inves tigate ch ar geso f  
m arket mani pulation  by power suppl i er s. Th e c hairma n,  st ate S en. Jo e  Du nn 
( D-Sant aAna),saysth e issueof unscheduled plant sh utdown s isonhis agend a.? ??? ?"The pro blem  is: How d oes  on e pro vet hat a  par t ic ula r  outa ge w a s part of 
a  de l i be rate strate g y todepri vet he sta te o f kilowatts, rath e r than a resul t 
o f nor mal busi ne ss operations? " D un n said.
-- -
?????Times  staff w ri t er Na ncy Ri vera B rooks c o n tr i butedto t his  story.
- --- -- - ------- -- -- - ------ ---- -- ------ ------ - ---- - - ---------------- ----- - - ----- --- ----- -- ------- - ---- ---------- ----------- ------ ---- ----- ------- -- ------ --- -- 
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E lev ator A nxie t y  Is R idin gHig h 

Emerg e n 

unscheduled maintenance._To help_officials predict available supply,_
generators provide_an_annual maintenance_plan_that is updated_regularly.
?????In addition, however,_facilities sometimes shut down_for unexpected 
reasons:_leaking_tubes, burnt-out transformers, cracked turbines and faulty 
feed pumps. At one point Tuesday, about_8,200_megawatts were_unavailable_
because_of unscheduled shutdowns. That's enough_to supply about 6 million_
households, and_up from 5,700 megawatts a week ago.
?????The huge_1,400-megawatt_Mohave power plant_near Laughlin, Nev., which 
supplies Southern California Edison and_the Los Angeles Department of Water_
and Power, was_felled_Monday_by a transformer problem._That was enough to 
push the_state into blackouts.
?????A growing number of_skeptics, however, question whether those reasons 
are_always valid, accusing generators of withholding_power to shrink supply 
and_drive up_prices.
?????"There's no way to verify_it, so you've_got to_take their word_for it," 
said Frank Wolak, a_Stanford University economist_who studies California's 
electricity market. "And_given_that it's very_profitable_for_these things_to 
occur, you_start_to wonder_if_they're creating an artificial scarcity."
?????Tom Williams_of_Duke Energy said the Houston-based company is_working 
hard to keep_its_California power plants, which_are capable of producing 
3,351_megawatts of electricity, in operation after_months of_near-continuous 
operation.
?????"It's_like riding a moped across the country," he said. "They're just_
not meant to run this hard."
?????Last_week, the state Senate_formed a_committee_to investigate charges_of_
market manipulation_by power suppliers. The chairman, state Sen._Joe Dunn_
(D-Santa Ana), says the issue of_unscheduled plant shutdowns is_on_his agenda.
?????"The problem is: How does_one prove that a particular outage_was part of 
a deliberate_strategy_to_deprive the state of kilowatts,_rather than a result 
of normal_business operations?" Dunn_said.
--- 
?????Times staff writer Nancy Rivera Brooks_contributed_to this story.
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Elevator Anxiety Is Riding_High_

Emergen