Georgia Power Solar Energy Mandate

    On Thursday, July 11, 2013, by a vote of 3 - 2, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) issued a mandate to Georgia Power Company to increase their solar power capacity by 525 megawatts by the end of 2016. From what I gather from reading about the solar energy issue in the printed news media it appears there were two conservative groups on opposite ends of the spectrum on this issue with one group promoting economic freedom and one group promoting, I surmise, lower consumer rates. My question is: "Is more solar energy on Georgia Power Company's power grid actually going to drive consumer rates down?" Remember, Georgia Power is a a corporation operating under the auspices of an investor owned for profit public utility regulated by the PSC. Their service mission is to deliver electrical power to their customers at competitive rates which, in my opinion, they have done a pretty good job of over the years. Another thing to remember is solar energy is but one more experiment in social engineering that is coming out of Washington.

   One point of interest to note is that Georgia Power said they are generating enough power and do not need solar energy. Although my power comes via way of an Electric Membership Corporation, I would have to say that Georgia Power producing enough power bodes well for the customers on their power grid. Power grid? I do not know how much of Georgia Power's power production comes by way of alternative energy sources whether owned by Georgia Power or purchased from other power producers  but I have to wonder that with the number of coal fired generating plants Georgia Power is shutting down has any thought been given as to what effect replacing these plants with solar energy production facilities would have on the power grid in times of peak demand as compared to coal fired/natural gas and hydro generating units? I venture to say that the social engineers in Washington don't have a clue as to how solar energy power production would fit into supplying power to a high demand power grid. During low load conditions on the power grid power companies will have x number of coal fired/natural gas and hydro generating units offline. These units can be quickly brought online to meet demand as the load on the power grid dictates. My question is: "How will/would Georgia Power bring x number of solar energy generating panels online same as they do coal fired/natural gas and hydro units to support the grid during peak load conditions?"

   The power grid not only in Georgia but throughout the United States as a whole is important. We cannot allow the grid to suffer as the result of social engineers in Washington and members of the PSC who perceive themselves to be experts in power production to affect the grid so as "rolling brownouts" would be necessary. The New York State Power Authority (NYSPA) is in the process of implementing programs to reduce power demand now that summer is here and commercial/residential air conditioning is placing heavy demands on their grid. I am not privy to exactly what the  NYSPA programs encompass but I can assure that same may involve "rolling brownouts."

   What is a "rolling brownout?" It is where you roll power capacity from area to area within a grid and reduce the amount of power a specified area within the grid receives over a specified period of time before rolling over and reducing power to another area. What this does is cause motors on appliances to run slower than the manufacturer's recommended R.P.M. rate for 120 volts/60 cycles. Your appliances will continue to work until you discover the stuff in your freezer is beginning to thaw, you call a repairman, and the repairman comes out and tells you you need a new motor. As I understand it, in New York large commecial customers are warned before power is reduced so equipment can be taken offline to prevent possible damage from a reduction in power.

   Whether on the Georgia Power grid or another power provider's grid, no customers want to see "rolling brownouts." If not you need to contact your members of Congress and your local State Representatives and State Senators advising them that the social engineers in Washington and members of Public Service Commissions need to leave power production to the experts at not only Georgia Power Company but other power providers as well. I will remember the three who voted for the Georgia Power mandate next time they stand for election on anything.

   Next blog will be entitled: So Called "Green Power"