California has far more electric generating capacity on tap for the current heat wave than it needs, according to data from state regulators.
The California ISO, which matches electric generating capacity with power needs, said demand today would peak at about 40,000 megawatts.
The agency predicted it will have a capacity of about 46,500 megawatts on hand.
At 10 a.m., actual use in its California and Nevada service area was about 29,000 megawatts, with about 6,000 megawatts of that coming from solar, geothermal, wind or other renewable resources.
The California ISO is the wholesale power agency that handles about 80 percent of California electricity transmission decisions. More than 12 years ago, it had to institute rolling blackouts when generating capacity was outstripped by power demands during heat waves in California.
Its forecast for today was subject to change due to any unusual and unexpected loss of major generators or transmission lines.
