About Today’s Outlook

Data presented in Today’s Outlook is for information only. They are forecast values based on the best information available at the time.

Current System Demand is a snapshot of the total system load from the ISO Energy Management System. The figure is updated every 10 minutes. Because it is only a snapshot, figures reflected on this page may not capture actual peak system load.

Today’s Peak Demand reflects the peak load to this point in time of the 10-minute snapshot of the load displayed in the Current System Load. It may not reflect actual Peak Demand for the day.

Today’s Forecast Peak Demand reflects the hour ahead adjustment of the forecast peak load for the day. Forecasts are adjusted two hours before the operating hour.

Tomorrow’s Forecast Peak Demand reflects the forecast of peak load contained in the California ISO OASIS web site under the System Load tab. It is adjusted as a new one-day forecast is published.

Load Graph shows the Current System Load 10-minute snapshot figures plotted against the forecast demand and available resources. The forecast hourly demand is the forecast curve from which Today’s Peak Demand”is calculated. Demand is forecast for each hour, the values between the hourly forecasts are interpolated by the graphing routines. Click on the graph to enlarge the presentation and to see a more detailed explanation of terms.

Conserve-O-Meter

The ISO always advises consumers to conserve power. Using less energy reduces environmental impact and helps reduce customer power bills. Conservation can also be important to maintain balance on the grid. The Conserve-O-Meter gives a quick way to know how much conservation is needed at any particular time. It is based on current conditions and can change through out the day.

AWE Status

Alerts Warnings and Emergencies communicate to energy suppliers and consumers about potential power shortages or equipment problems that could create a statewide or localized shortage.

Transmission Emergency notices are issued for events that threaten, harm or limit the capabilities of any element of the transmission grid and threaten reliability.

Restricted Maintenance Operation notices are issued if system resource levels are such that planned maintenance outages may threaten reliability. It can be issued system wide or regionally to restrict planned work on generation units or transmission facilities.

Alert notices are issued one day in advance to energy market participants to notify them of forecasted deficiencies in the market and that more power is needed.

Warning notices are issued hours in advance to energy market participants to notify them of continuing forecasted deficiencies in the market. A Warning allows the ISO to procure energy reserve margins from sources outside of the market.

A Stage 1 Emergency is called when the minimum required Operating Reserve level falls below approximately seven percent. This amount can vary depending on the type of generation that’s running. Under a Stage 1 Emergency, the ISO continues to call for conservation, and will activate the Flex Your Power Now, and Voluntary Load Reduction programs.

A Stage 2 Emergency is called when the minimum Operating Reserve level falls below five percent. Under a Stage 2 Emergency, the ISO can call on “interruptible” programs operated by the utilities. Typically, participants in these programs are commercial and industrial customers who receive a lower electricity rate and in exchange, are required to reduce their energy usage by a predetermined amount when called upon during a Stage 2 Emergency.

One Hour Notification of Probable Load Interruption notices are issued to the utilities, public safety agencies, the media, regulatory agencies and market participants when a Stage 3 Emergency and rotating outages are deemed probable.

A Stage 3 Emergency is called when on-line Reserves fall below the minimum requirements (amount can vary- usually around 3 percent of the minimum Operating Reserve total). Under a stage 3 Emergency, the ISO may call on the utilities to reduce “firm load” by implementing rotating outages. This is a last resort, used only when a climbing demand for energy is close to surpassing the available supply.