That's because our power grid is interconnected with the rest of the Northwest, and we are not immune to power supply problems caused by other utilities or power suppliers. If there is no power available on the market at any price or one of PGE's suppliers is not able to deliver, PGE is prepared to curtail power on a rotating basis. This would involve shutting down groups of major feeder lines for half-hour periods to meet the load levels required to meet electrical standards. These steps would be necessary to ensure that all customers have access to electricity for the majority of the day. For public safety reasons, power lines serving emergency services, hospitals, broadcast media, sewer and water lines, and downtown Portland and Salem would remain on during such an event.
Shortage means that at a given moment, demand for power exceeds the supply of power.
There are a number of measures that utilities and customers can take to minimize the impact of a power shortage. The region has vast capabilities to bring power in through high-voltage transmission lines that extend north, south and east. Power companies would only start rotating curtailments if there was insufficient generation or transmission capability and voluntary cutbacks failed. To avoid an emergency, hydropower producers in the region may temporarily draw down reservoirs beyond desired levels for fish passage. Thermal power producers could ask for a temporary increase to burn more fuel, which could increase emissions into the atmosphere.