Substation fire poses blackout threat in Phoenix

http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story.jsp?id=2004070620580002900121&dt=20040706205800&w=RTR&coview=

Substation fire poses blackout threat in Phoenix

LOS ANGELES, July 6 (Reuters) - Phoenix faces the threat of rolling blackouts on Wednesday after a fire at a major power substation reduced the amount of electricity that could be moved into the city, a utility spokesman said.

"So far, we have managed to avoid any involuntary curtailments but we are in a very tight situation and tomorrow (Wednesday) will be even tighter," Alan Bunnell, a spokesman for utility Arizona Public Service, said on Tuesday.

Bunnell said the utility was "having an aggressive conservation push" in a bid to avert rolling blackouts with temperatures in Phoenix seen climbing to around 109 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday.

Extremely hot weather normally leads to strong demand for electricity due to heavy use of air conditioning systems.

:grr:

General neighborhood of 59th Ave & I-10, Phoenix.

But I don't know if it had anything to do with a transformer fire, as I never listen to the news in Phoenix.