At the same time, Energy Policy staff will and review and revise the administrative rule for dealing with petroleum emergencies to reflect changes in the industry, in federal regulations, and in policies for addressing petroleum shortages. The Northwest's vast hydroelectric system historically has provided a peaking capacity far beyond Washington's daily needs. However, some areas of the state, notably the Puget Sound region, are beginning to experience occasional difficulty meeting daily peak demand. This emerging problem results from transmission constraints and bottlenecks, not insufficient generation, and is being addressed by the utility industry. The region is unlikely to experience an electricity shortage as the direct result of seasonal peaks, however.
Utilities can foresee a shortage by monitoring reservoir levels and weather.
As fall and winter progress, utilities can work to avert such a shortage by building and operating thermal and nuclear generation and purchasing more energy from out of state. The result is higher energy costs, but no winter shortage. A cursory analysis performed by Bonneville in 1992 estimated that, even in the worst water years and with extremely cold weather, most shortages could be handled with a minimal voluntary effort. Years of drought and cold weather are those where such a shortage is most likely. Figures 1 and 2 provide historical information on Columbia River runoff and reservoir levels.