Area businesses prepare for darkness

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- As Californians brace for what could be a summer full

of rolling blackouts, some businesses in the city are considering backup

power sources to keep their operations up and running.

Representatives for Conexant Systems Inc., a Newport Beach-based

computer chip maker, met with city officials last week to discuss placing

portable generators on their site in the airport area for several months

during the summer.

The expected power interruptions could damage chip material and slow

production because of the time it requires to recalibrate sensitive

equipment. But the problems could be avoided by placing generators on its

campus, the representatives said.

City officials said the plan would require the company to get special

permits to use parking spaces for the generators, but added that the

permits probably wouldn’t be a problem.

“We don’t consider it an issue,” said Patricia Temple, the city’s

planning director, adding that Conexant had more than adequate parking.

Conexant officials had also agreed to work with the city on noise

issues, as well as screening the generators so they wouldn’t become an

eyesore, Temple said.

While the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which also must

approve generators, has imposed annual limits on such machines, Conexant

officials said they were working with the agency to secure permission.

But even if Conexant has the generators in place, a lack of advanced

warning for blackouts could cause problems.

While it would take between 45 minutes and an hour to get the

generators going, electric companies have typically informed local

government agencies about blackouts only 10 minutes before shutting off

power.

During Monday’s rolling blackouts, that time period shrank to “a few

minutes at best,” said Steven Conroy, a spokesman for Southern California

Edison, adding that the agency overseeing the state’s power grid had

tried to find extra power up until the last minute before ordering

electricity companies to shut down power supply to their customers.

Public safety concerns -- information about the location of blackouts

could encourage criminals to target those areas -- and liability issues

are the reasons for the short notification period, Conroy said.

He added that the state’s Public Utilities Commission is considering a

proposal to give customers at least a general idea of whether they’re

likely to be hit by blackouts. A decision could come as early as next

week.

Meanwhile, Conexant officials joined other businesses and the Orange

County Business Council on Tuesday in lobbying for longer notification

periods before blackouts.

“The lack of notice to companies . . . is outrageous,” said Stan

Oftelie, the council’s president and chief executive. “Let’s be clear:

Jobs and our very economic stability demand a prudent, collaborative and

comprehensive planning effort now.”