Security Of The Electric Grid System In Arizona Print

Jay Harper discusses watering for survival thru the summer heat!

History of our infrastructure to build and store water thru times of drought from early settlers to dams and reservoirs.

Sprinkler heads and drip irrigation has led the way for better watering techniques.  Placing the water where it needs to be.

Advantages of native trees and plants.  They are water savvy!  Watering the plants you like and not wasting water on plants that are on their last leg.

Evaluating your plants and trees.  Replacing with heat tolerant plants.

Saving more water by mulching.  Holds moisture longer and cools the ground.

Discussion and tips for watering at night with drip irrigation. 

Landscape Watering For The Arizona Desert.  www.amwua.org

Saguaro Cactus' rare display of side blooms could be a sign of distress.  Jay explains how plants and trees blooming early can also be a sign of distress and why they do it. 

Discussion of soil probes and how they are useful in checking moisture levels inches below the ground.  A good way to avoid overwatering.

Watering around the outside canopy is the right place to water without the need to water near the base of the trunk.  

Using newspaper to make your own seed pots.

Jay explains his 'tuna fish can trick' to check your sprinker output and find out how much water is getting to areas of your lawn.

Ideal time to water should be between 4am and sunrise.  Jay explains why its better than overnight watering.

Putting pre-emergent down now before it rains to avoid weeds.

A roundtable discussion of the Arizona Grid System with APS' EVP Operations Jacob Tetlow and SRP's Director Transmission Operations Chris Hofmann.  Summer is their season!

To keep the grid at full load while planning on future growth, they build out a plan 10 years ahead to have the resources to make and distribute electricity.

Electricity is the one commodity they must make the exact amount to meet demand by the minute.  But they have a buffer and explain the Reserve Planning Reserves.

Discussion why rolling outtages are rare in Arizona compared to the California fires and Texas Freeze nightmare.

Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant is co-owned by partners in and out of state.  APS operates it on behalf of those partners.  SRP manages the river systems to produce power and water.

The many sources of energy used to make power.  Why wind is not as efficient as solar.  The challenges of a carbon free future.

How to make up the difference as coal fired plants are shutting down.

Staggering consumer power consumption is the future.  Customers are already getting the idea of 'Super Cooling'

The best form of energy are the ones you didn't have to make.  Educating the consumer with the right equipment, a generating plant never has to be built.  APS explains this concept on last summer's results of their Cool Rewards Program.

Discussion of the failure of the Texas Grid during the February Freeze and how close they came to total blackout.  Could it happen in Arizona?  And was the Arizona Corporation Commission considering the Texas Grid deregulation plan at one time?

Discussion of maintaining and investment is the key to system health.  One form of future energy is producing hydrogen.

What keeps Chris and Jacob up at night?  Wildfires and weather related incidents.  They explain.

What was the power consumption numbers like during Covid around the state?

CALLER:  Tired of the tile floor.  Considered removing it but don't want the mess.  Wants opinion on floating plank flooring on top of the existing tile.

CALLER:  Has a frame home built in 1983.  Had insulation and new A/C installed but looking for other ways to increase energy efficiency.  

CALLER:  Has smelly drains in the home especially in the bathrooms.  Any tips to figure out how to get rid of the odor.

The Most Asked Question Of The Week:  What size grab bars are the best for the bathroom?  Its more than just the grab bar itself.  The installation is very important!

Sanderson Ford

Weekly To Do:  Retiring a pool by putting a deck over it!  Mike Buckes of Deckover explains a custom designed strudy structure that fits inside the pool is a practical option than removing it completely.  And easy to remove if you want to activate the pool again.  

CALLER:  Wants to install gutters on his stucco home.  The stucco comes right to the drip edge.  How can they find the strudy wood to attach the gutters to?

Summer Solstace, Fathers Day and.....

CALLER:  Wants to cool down a specific room.  Heard Rosie mention a mini-split before and wants to know more information about it.  (Which we provide)

CALLER:  Hearing popping noises coming from the 3 year old water heater.  Considering draining it for starters.  What other suggestions might work?