Article

2005-06-06 China-Japan-Koreas

China's dynamic Zhejiang province braces for power outages

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Posted by gromky 2005-06-06 06:52|| || Front Page|| [4 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 B-b-but they're supposed to be the land of coal, and milk and honey and endless resources ...! And consumers ... [/sarcasm]

Seriously, though, this could get interesting. Is rationing really the best way to handle this? And what's to say shortages will stop at 9 million kilowatts?

Posted by Edward Yee">Edward Yee 2005-06-06 10:17|| http://edwardyee.fanworks.net]">[http://edwardyee.fanworks.net] 2005-06-06 10:17|| Front Page Top

#2 EY: Seriously, though, this could get interesting. Is rationing really the best way to handle this? And what's to say shortages will stop at 9 million kilowatts?

China has no inherent shortage of power. The reason that the government is rationing power is not because new power plants can't be built, but because the government massively subsidizes power. The average Chinese power bill, running one air-conditioner at night during the summer, is about $15. In NYC, it is $120, using hydroelectric power purchased from Canada. Think about the scale of the subsidy.

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2005-06-06 10:59|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-06-06 10:59|| Front Page Top

#3 The example referred to one 8000 BTU room air conditioner.

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2005-06-06 11:00|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-06-06 11:00|| Front Page Top

#4 When the Chinese government talks about a lack of resources, it is actually referring to a lack of *cheap* resources, not an actual shortage of the commodity in question. Pre-war Japanese officials also used to talk about a lack of (cheap) resources, which they attempted to remedy via their southern expeditions.

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2005-06-06 11:03|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-06-06 11:03|| Front Page Top

#5 I'm wondering, is this a lack of the resource, a lack of mining production, or a lack of generation capacity? It sounds like he's saying the first, when it seems more likely to be the second... at least for now. If they've actually begun to run out of accessible coal reserves and have no more of a plan to address it other than rolling brownouts, then Communism will fry in the summer heat. Morons.

Yo, Communist throwbacks: Demand outstripping supply - for lack of mining or generating capacity - is a no-brainer in the Capitalist world, lol! Morons.

I think there are some companies, particularly in the Western US, who would love to sell them coal - assuming they would be willing to pay the freight halfway around the world for something as bulky as coal... I'm thinking the trade deficit / balance of payments and that pegged currency all would play well in Poughkeepsie, er, so to speak. Welcome, Friends, lol!

Tell me, is that bubble wall starting to look a little thin and threadbare to you?
;-)

Posted by .com 2005-06-06 11:24|| 2005-06-06 11:24|| Front Page Top

#6 Oops, overlapped with your last, ZF... I was trying to remember how to spell Poughkeepsie, lol!

Posted by .com 2005-06-06 11:26|| 2005-06-06 11:26|| Front Page Top

#7 Australia will sell them the coal .com, lots closer. AC will do it every time, it's that threat of an AC peak. Wonder what their winter peak is relative.

Posted by Shipman 2005-06-06 12:09|| 2005-06-06 12:09|| Front Page Top

#8 Zhang Fei, I regularly got power bills for 800RMB/mo ($100 USD) last summer, running a standing unit AC. Of course, I ran it during the day, as that's when it's freaking hot. The Chinese can keep their sweltering offices with open windows letting in the polluted air.

Posted by gromky">gromky 2005-06-06 12:50|| 2005-06-06 12:50|| Front Page Top

#9 gromky: Zhang Fei, I regularly got power bills for 800RMB/mo ($100 USD) last summer, running a standing unit AC. Of course, I ran it during the day, as that's when it's freaking hot. The Chinese can keep their sweltering offices with open windows letting in the polluted air.

Was this to cool your entire 3-bedroom apartment, or just one bedroom?

Posted by Zhang Fei">Zhang Fei 2005-06-06 13:38|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2005-06-06 13:38|| Front Page Top

#10 Well, I had a small wall unit in the bedroom for nighttime, and a standup unit for the rest of the house. The country would really benefit from central air conditioning. I don't think I've seen any place that has it save specialized housing for foreigners.

And, sadly, I had to give up the 1400 sq ft masterpiece...I live in a much less posh two-bedroom joint now...should be easier on the bills...waaaaaah. That's assuming the power stays on all summer. I had one power outage at my apartment last year...I assume that some important person who lived in the same building got on the horn to the power company, and told them not to do it again.

Posted by gromky">gromky 2005-06-06 14:27|| 2005-06-06 14:27|| Front Page Top

#11 I don't know if he'll see it, but I keep meaning to ask Zhang Fei, who just mentioned subsidized power and reminded me of my other, older question:

Is the Chinese government subsidizing steel prices to steel-intensive industries, like tubular goods?

Posted by Phil Fraering 2005-06-06 21:14|| http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com]">[http://newsfromthefridge.typepad.com] 2005-06-06 21:14|| Front Page Top

#12 yep - and how much efficiency i.e.: insulation have the Chinese required? I bet little - means the energy expended to cool living areas i sost to the sky...

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-06-06 22:01|| 2005-06-06 22:01|| Front Page Top

#13 or lost - damn lisp

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-06-06 22:02|| 2005-06-06 22:02|| Front Page Top

#14 Oh, you nailed it, Frank G. NO insulation. Concrete or cinder-block walls. China is backwards in so many ways.

Posted by gromky">gromky 2005-06-06 23:42|| 2005-06-06 23:42|| Front Page Top

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