by Gianina Lomedico
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne implemented a plan on Jan. 16 in case of a rolling blackout caused by a Stage Three power emergency.
This is due to Governor Gray Davis asking California to take steps to reduce electricity usage by 10 percent. As Southern California Edison is about $6 million in debt, ULV is trying to do its part to conserve electricity.
The Stage Three emergency states that “consumers are advised that rotating outages are possible.” The Second Stage is “voluntary interruption of service to select customers is required to avoid more severe conditions (interrupted).” The Stage One alert is “consumers are urged to reduce the use of electricity voluntarily to avoid more severe conditions.”
When power reserves reach below 1.5 percent, Stage Three power alerts are initiated and rolling blackouts can happen. Rolling blackouts have only occurred twice this past month and both were in Northern California.
“The likelihood of rolling blackouts in the ULV area are fairly minimal because we do not use a substantial amount of power as the grid of City of Industry,” said Assistant Director of Facilities Management Robert Beebe.
The Claremont Colleges have implemented the Stage Two power alert. ULV has been following measures that include thermostats being set to 68 degrees heating and 78 degrees cooling, having computers on only during use, putting air conditioners on timers and cutting the use of space heaters and coffee warmers. Whenever possible, work will be conducted by daylight or by task lighting only. Copiers, desktop printers, personal radios, stereos and televisions must be turned off.
“The most important conservation is the use of air conditioners and lighting. Light sensors in rooms and photocells in parking lots are being installed for conserving purposes,” said Beebe.
He also said that, “Conservation is extremely important. It is not a paranoia thing. It minimizes the likelihood of rolling blackouts and reduces the money spent on electricity.”
Departments are taking measures if rolling blackouts occur. The Operations and Maintenance Department is asking the ULV community to turn off all computers, electric devices and lighting.
It is suggested that people do not panic, instead, they should take a break from whatever they are doing at the moment. If lunchtime is near, go to lunch. Rolling blackouts will last for roughly one hour. Expect service to be restored within an hour. Traffic along with traffic lights can be affected.
Executive Vice President Phillip Hawkey explained how electricity prices will increase next year. “The cost of utilities such as electricity and natural gas will go up 30 percent. Overall costs will increase $300,000,” said Hawkey.
He explained the “Supertents waste 20 percent. They waste a lot of our electricity. We have a long-term project on this.”
Ironically, recent electricity problems have been caused by construction and not due to rolling blackouts. Southern California Edison put a new transformer in the new Oaks Pod that shut off electricity in the Oaks from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8.
“There wasn’t a lot to do. Everyone left. I went to the Student Center and hung around there. If it happened at night, then it would have been a problem,” said senior Dan Miyashiro.
Junior John Chon was not really affected by the outage but commented that, “the next morning the shower was cold. I did not mind everything else.”
On Feb. 8, the major telephone cable leading to Stu-Han was accidentally cut at the Hoover construction site. Telecommunications repaired the cable. Around noon residents noticed the phones out. This continued through the weekend and some students are still without phones.
“The phones being out interrupt your life and form of communication with other people and the outside world,” said sophomore Stephanie Arias.
Stu-Han Resident Assistant sophomore Jenny Davis commented on how electricity has affected people. “It really hasn’t affected us, except for turning off the gas,” said Davis.
Julie Thurman Francisco, director of Housing and Residential Life, gave some advice for ULV residents to follow. “We are encouraging students to have flashlights with them in the dorms. We want students to minimize the light usage. Every little bit definitely helps,” she said.
