We're on the course now and we can stay on it. Those market prices can bring a healthy return. With temperatures streaking in California, the state is enduring power shortages. Winnard, who lives 70 miles north of San Francisco, said his power was shut off three times Tuesday. That will allow the plant to produce power at least a month and a half longer every two years.
Unexpected shutdowns are what tarnished the plant's image.
In the past, it has shut down too often for BPA to do reliable power planning. At its worst, the plant automatically shut down five times in six days in 1987. Though the plant still has its glitches, such as a diesel generator that failed this week, causing the plant to reduce its power production temporarily, there has only been one shutdown in the past three years, Parrish said. They've increased our confidence. They're just holes in the ground with a lot of concrete.