New Record Set for Energy Usage; Governor Schwarzenegger Urges Californians to Conserve

Business Wire, July 17, 2006

FOLSOM, Calif. -- A new record for peak demand was set by the California Independent System Operator Corporation (California ISO) today, Monday, July 17, 2006. System load is currently in excess of 46,000 megawatts and still climbing. The previous record of 45,431 megawatts, set this same week last year on July 20, 2005, was shattered at approximately 1:30 p.m. This follows a weekend of record-setting demand numbers for the California ISO control area with 42,736 megawatts being served on Saturday and 41,875 on Sunday.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will address media from the California ISO Control Room today at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the state's electricity situation and the critical need for conservation.

DATE:   Monday, July 17, 2006

          TIME (PDT):   3:30 p.m. PDT

               PLACE:   California ISO Office
                        Folsom, California

      CALL-IN ACCESS:   (877) 322-9654 Participant #: 403388

The California ISO is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation charged with managing the flow of electricity along California's open-market wholesale power grid. The mission of the California ISO is to safeguard the reliable delivery of electricity, and ensure equal access to 25,000 circuit miles of "electron highway." As the impartial operator of the wholesale power grid in the state, the California ISO conducts a small portion of the bulk power markets. These markets are used to allocate space on the transmission lines, maintain operating reserves and match supply with demand in real time.