Recent Developments with the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC)
In the News
405 blackout-exemption requests make first cut
Capitol
Alert, August 22, 2001
Dozens of California nursing homes, dialysis centers and dental
offices are about to be spared the pain of rolling blackouts.
Alas, the same can't be said of country clubs, beauty parlors,
a Fairfield shopping mall and thousands of others that unsuccessfully
sought blackout exemptions from state regulators. A proposed
list of 405 businesses and institutions in line for blackout
exemptions has been released by the state Public Utilities
Commission, which will vote on the exemptions next month.
PUC hired Exponent Inc. to determine if they met the standard
of "imminent jeopardy or danger to public health and
safety."
Click here
to read the article.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D., of Exponent
Commission releases list for blackout exemptions
SiliconValley.com,
August 21, 2001
Bad news for all those ice cream parlors, tattoo shops and
funeral homes that wanted to be exempted from rolling blackouts.
The Public Utilities Commission has released its list of the
chosen few -- about 400 businesses that probably won't have
to worry about the lights going out suddenly. Exponent was
hired by the PUC to determine if businesses should be exempted
because of public health and safety risks.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D., of Exponent
"PUC Issues Lineup for Blackout Exemptions"
Los Angeles
Times, August 21, 2001
The most exclusive list of the summer is out, and it's not
for a movie premiere or a restaurant opening--it's the roster
of California businesses that have won exemptions to rolling
blackouts. The California Public Utilities Commission has
issued proposed lineup of 405 businesses that would get the
coveted exemption from rotating outages. Exponent ranked the
applications by risk for the PUC.
For more information, read the Los Angeles Times article.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D., of Exponent
"O.K. Guys, Who Really Needs Power?"
Business
Week, July 2, 2001
A new battle has opened in the California energy wars, this
one setting up a rating system to decide who's guaranteed
power this summer and who must suffer through blackouts. The
CPUC is reviewing more than 10,000 applications for exemptions.
The CPUC hired Exponent to sort out who's neediest in terms
of public health and safety.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D., of Exponent
"Blackouts and Businesses: Dying for an Exemption?"
Los Angeles
Times, June 14, 2001
Because the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
has declared that only health and safety concerns, not economic
hardship, will qualify businesses for the new round of discretionary
exemptions, some companies are letting their imaginations
flourish. Exponent has been commissioned by the CPUC to assess
which business will be exempt from rolling blackouts for health
and safety reasons.
For more information, read the Los Angeles Times article.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D. of Exponent
"Blackout Waiver a Matter of Lights or Death: Businesses
Compete for Limited Spots on State's Exemption List"
San
Francisco Chronicle, June 1, 2001
The California energy crisis is threatening to bring rolling
blackouts to residences and businesses throughout California.
Hospitals, firehouses and other agencies that protect public
safety have always been considered "essential" services
worthy of blackout exemptions. Nursing homes, refineries and
other businesses have long argued they also deserve free passes
because a sudden power loss could be deadly. Exponent has
been commissioned by the California Public Utilities Commission
to assess which business will be exempt from rolling blackouts.
For more information, read the San Francisco Chronicle article.
Featuring Subodh R. Medhekar, Ph.D. of Exponent
News & Press Releases
Exponent Advises CPUC
on Rolling Blackout Exemptions
June 5, 2001
Links
Official website for Application for Exemption from Rotating
Power Outages
(http://www.rotating-outages.com)
Official website of California Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC)
(http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/)
Exponent's Energy Services
(http://www.exponent.com/practices/mechanical/energy.html)
Exponent's Risk Management & Reliability Services
(http://www.exponent.com/practices/risk/)
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