Press Mention WRBL News 3 June 26, 2012
Topical Mention
Report warns of brownouts and blackouts this summer as waterways heat up
In this mention
A River Network report warns that continued river drought conditions in Alabama and Georgia could curtail power plant electricity production, potentially causing brownouts or blackouts. Georgia Power and Alabama Power representatives downplay the risk, citing past experience weathering the 2008 drought without losing generation capacity and noting the availability of storage ponds.
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Report warns of brownouts and blackouts this summer as waterways heat up
By: Raquel Rodriguez | WRBL News 3
Published: June 27, 2012
Updated: June 27, 2012 - 10:49 PM
COLUMBUS, Ga. --
As the summer heat beats down on us it's also warming up and depleting waterways in Alabama and Georgia.
A new report by the River Network says if river drought conditions continue it could curtail power plants' electricity production causing brownouts or blackouts. The External Affairs Manager at Georgia Power said its customers don't have to worry about that because the company has enough electricity to meet the high summertime demand.
"We made it through the last drought was it '08 without any problems we didn't lose one single plant. Hydros were not working but the other plants do the majority of it [supply electricity]," said Robert Watkins.
Robert Watkins said if it didn't rain from now until next spring there could be a problem but even then there are storage ponds filled with water. An Alabama Power spokesperson said its customer's don't need to worry about brownouts or blackouts either.