SUBJECT:

Potential Power Shortages

With warmer temperatures and the San Onofre Nuclear Power Generating Station off line, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is warning San Diego regional customers to expect potential power shortages this summer. UC San Diego’s power generation resources can provide about 75% of our peak power demand on the hottest days, leaving the campus vulnerable to grid disturbances during the midday heat.

When SDG&E notifies campus operations that regional power reserves are dwindling, a campus notice will be issued to inform the community of the power situation. If SDG&E is required to take actions to stabilize the utility grid, the campus should be prepared for potential outages.

If a Demand Response situation occurs, Facilities Management will automatically reduce power demand by adjusting campus comfort cooling settings. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning in office areas will go into “unoccupied” mode and spaces will be warmer or cooler than normal, depending on the space. Temperature set points in lab areas will be allowed to drift between 68 and 76 degrees. Airflow will not be affected.

Over the next few weeks, Facilities Management will be testing the Demand Response mode during early morning hours. We are working closely with key department contacts to ensure that highly sensitive spaces are not disrupted. If you have questions regarding these tests, please contact your department MSO or DSO. Your efforts to conserve energy can make a big difference. You can help the campus by:

• Turning off non-essential lighting and plug-in items

• Closing fume hood sashes

• Unplugging laptops, allowing them to run on battery power and recharging at night

• Turning off computer monitors when you leave for the day

• Avoiding use of cold rooms, environmental rooms, ovens, autoclaves, dishwashers, MRI magnets, electron microscopes and other energy-intensive research and computational equipment

Thank you for working with us to minimize the impact on the campus during potential regional power shortages. For more information on What to Do During a Rolling Blackout or Electrical Stage Alerts’, please go to
http://blink.ucsd.edu/facilities/management/maintenance/electrical/

Russell Thackston Assistant Vice Chancellor